Monday - Friday: 12:00 - 13:00 SIN/HK | 0600 - 07:00 CET
At least 11 countries have come under attack from Iran in retaliation for ongoing U.S. and Israeli strikes, but no country, other than Israel, has been hit harder than the Emirates.
The UAE says it has intercepted over 90% of incoming missile and drone threats from Iran. As of March 12, the 13th day of the war, official tallies from the UAE’s Ministry of Defense show air defenses intercepted 268 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,514 drones, with six fatalities and 131 injuries reported.
The amount of firepower being sent to the Emirates is significantly higher than that of its Gulf neighbors and almost as much as Israel, which has faced more than 1,000 missiles and drones in the last two weeks from Iran. Strikes on neighboring Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain all remain in the hundreds.
Despite the interceptions, Iran’s strikes have significantly impacted life across the Emirates. Residents in Dubai and Abu Dhabi frequently hear loud explosions overhead due to daily interceptions, and missile alarms ring out on phones at all hours.
