The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Defense reports active engagement with missile and drone attack as ceasefire remains fragile.
DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the country’s air defenses are 'actively engaging' with a significant missile and drone attack early Friday.
This development poses fresh challenges to the already precarious ceasefire in place between Iran and the US, which has generally held since April 8th.
The Ministry advised residents to avoid approaching or handling any debris resulting from intercepted attacks for safety reasons.
The recent escalation of hostilities comes amidst heightened regional tensions and amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve the conflict.
Earlier on Thursday night, the US military successfully intercepted multiple Iranian attacks targeting three Navy ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
In response to these unprovoked strikes, US forces launched counter-strikes against Iranian military facilities believed to be involved in operations against American interests.
According to a social media update from the US Central Command, the retaliatory actions were carried out as an exercise in self-defense.
Despite these exchanges, no ships were reportedly hit, and the US has maintained that it does not seek further escalation while remaining on high alert for the protection of its forces.
US President
Donald Trump addressed the ongoing situation, affirming that the ceasefire remains intact despite the recent violence.
The UAE has been a prime target throughout the conflict with Iran, which commenced on February 28th with coordinated strikes by Washington and Israel.
Over the past six weeks, authorities in Abu Dhabi have accused Iran of resuming its missile and drone assaults against UAE territory.
The first such attacks since the ceasefire agreement on April 8th were reported this week.
UAE officials claim to have endured over 2,000 drones, hundreds of ballistic missiles, and dozens of cruise missiles from Iranian sources since the conflict began.
While most strikes have been intercepted, they have resulted in at least 13 fatalities, injured more than 200 people, and damaged critical energy infrastructure and notable buildings.
Other Gulf Arab states have also faced repeated attacks throughout the conflict despite their non-involvement in the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran.
In response to these continuous threats, the UAE announced the formation of a national committee dedicated to documenting Iranian attacks and assessing the resulting damage.
This committee, led by the UAE Attorney General, aims to compile evidence for potential legal action against Tehran.
By adhering to internationally recognized legal standards, this initiative seeks to pursue accountability, justice, and reparations for the damages incurred.
The committee's establishment comes on the heels of the UAE condemning Iran’s recent hostile statements concerning Abu Dhabi's cooperation with the US.
The UAE Foreign Ministry emphasized that its defense alliances and international relations are matters of national sovereignty.
Despite these efforts at documentation and potential legal redress, direct in-person talks between the US and Iran facilitated by Pakistan last month did not yield a comprehensive agreement to end the conflict.