UAE says 4 killed, 112 injured in Iranian attacks since Feb. 28

The United Arab Emirates has released comprehensive casualty figures from ongoing Iranian attacks, confirming Sunday that four citizens have been killed and 112 wounded since Tehran began its retaliatory campaign on Feb. 28. The Defense Ministry provided detailed statistics on the scale of the assault, revealing that hundreds of missiles and drones have been directed at the Gulf nation over the past week.

According to the ministry's statement, 238 ballistic missiles were fired from Iran toward the UAE during this period. Air defenses successfully intercepted and destroyed 221 of these projectiles, while 15 fell into the sea and two landed on Emirati territory, causing the reported casualties and damage. Additionally, eight cruise missiles were detected and destroyed before reaching their targets.

Drone Barrages and Interceptions

The drone threat proved even more numerically significant, with Iranian forces launching 1,422 unmanned aerial vehicles at the UAE since Feb. 28. Defense systems intercepted 1,342 of these drones, but 80 managed to penetrate air defenses and impact within the country's borders, contributing to the death toll and injuries.

Sunday alone saw intense aerial activity, with 17 ballistic missiles and 117 drones detected from Iran. Emirati forces intercepted 16 missiles and 113 drones, while one missile fell into the sea and four drones successfully struck territory, demonstrating the continuing challenge of achieving complete air defense coverage against sustained multi-vector attacks.

Regional Context of Attacks

The UAE finds itself in the crosshairs of Iran's retaliation campaign due to its strategic partnership with Washington and its hosting of American military assets. Since the United States and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran on Feb. 28, Tehran has systematically targeted Gulf countries that provide basing or overflight rights to US forces, seeking to impose costs on Washington's regional partners.

The Iranian campaign has killed more than 1,200 people according to Tehran's figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and wounded over 10,000 others. These staggering losses have driven Iran's determination to respond forcefully, even at the risk of drawing Gulf nations deeper into the conflict.

Emirati Defiance

Despite the casualties and material damage, the UAE Defense Ministry struck a defiant tone in its announcement, stating: "The UAE remains fully prepared to confront any threats and respond firmly to attempts to undermine the country's security." The statement signals Abu Dhabi's commitment to maintaining its defensive posture and alliance structure regardless of Iranian pressure.

The Emirati response mirrors that of other Gulf states facing similar attacks, all of which face the difficult calculation of whether to deepen military cooperation with Washington and risk further Iranian retaliation, or seek accommodation with Tehran at the expense of their longstanding security relationships with the United States.