UAE air defences intercept 7 ballistic missiles, 27 UAVs

Doha, Qatar: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said its air defence systems intercepted seven ballistic missiles and 27 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) l...

Doha, Qatar: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said its air defence systems intercepted seven ballistic missiles and 27 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Iran on Friday, March 13, 2026 as regional tensions continue to escalate.

According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, since the onset of what it described as Iranian aggression, the country’s air defence systems have intercepted a total of 285 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,567 UAVs.

The attacks have resulted in six fatalities involving nationals of the UAE, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Authorities also reported 141 minor to moderate injuries among nationals of several countries, including the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.

The Ministry of Defence affirmed that it remains fully prepared to address any threats and will firmly confront attempts to undermine the country’s security.

It stressed that the armed forces are committed to safeguarding the UAE’s sovereignty, security and stability, while protecting national interests and capabilities.