The Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates announced on Sunday that its air defense systems successfully intercepted 16 ballistic missiles and 42 drones launched from Iran, marking a new escalation that reflects the scale of security challenges facing the country amid rising regional tensions.

The Ministry stated that the total number of intercepted threats since the beginning of the Iranian attacks has reached 414 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,914 drones, highlighting the intensity of ongoing operations and the need for advanced defensive readiness.

It confirmed that the attacks resulted in the death of two armed forces personnel while performing their national duty, in addition to the death of a Moroccan civilian contractor working with the armed forces, as well as eight civilian fatalities from multiple nationalities.

The Ministry also reported that 178 individuals sustained injuries of varying severity, representing a wide range of nationalities including Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese, Afghan, Bahraini, Comorian, Turkish, Iraqi, Nepalese, Nigerian, Omani, Jordanian, Palestinian, Ghanaian, Indonesian, Swedish, and Tunisian.

The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the UAE maintains the highest levels of readiness to address any potential threats, reaffirming its commitment to safeguarding national sovereignty, protecting critical assets, and ensuring the security and stability of all residents.