Abu Dhabi, March 15 – Six nationals from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh have been killed, and 142 residents of various nationalities have sustained minor to moderate injuries in the UAE amid recent escalating regional tensions, the UAE's Defence Ministry said on Sunday.
Since the start of what the Ministry described as Iranian attacks, the UAE's air defence systems have intercepted 298 ballistic missiles, 1,606 drones, and 15 cruise missiles, the Ministry said in a statement.
It said the air defence systems intercepted four ballistic missiles and six drones launched towards the country on Sunday alone, according to Xinhua news agency.
Earlier on Sunday, authorities in Dubai confirmed that loud explosions heard in the Marina and Al Sufouh areas were the result of air defence interceptions.
In Abu Dhabi, emergency teams contained a fire caused by a drone strike at the Ruwais Industrial Complex, with no injuries reported, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office.
In the eastern emirate of Fujairah, a fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Industries Zone following another interception, resulting in minor injuries to a Jordanian national.
The developments came amid heightened regional tensions following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran, which began on February 28. Iran and Iran-aligned groups responded with attacks on Israeli and US interests across the Middle East.
On Sunday, pan-Arab news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed published parts of its interview with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who said Tehran has information that the US and Israel are launching attacks from certain locations against Arab states in the West Asia region.