Expatriate workers from three Asian nations — Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh — were among the civilians who lost their lives as Iran launched an extensive aerial assault on the UAE, authorities confirmed. According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, 58 additional people sustained injuries across the country since the campaign began on February 28, 2026, when Iran initiated retaliatory strikes following a joint US-Israeli operation targeting Iranian territory.
The scale of the aerial barrage was significant. According to Gulf News, the ministry logged 165 incoming ballistic missiles, of which 152 were shot down and 13 fell into the sea. Two cruise missiles were also identified and neutralised. On the drone front, the ministry said in a statement that “541 Iranian drones were detected, 506 of which were intercepted and destroyed,” with the remainder landing inside the country and causing material damage to civilian properties.
According to Khaleej Times, debris from intercepted projectiles landed across multiple Abu Dhabi districts, including Saadiyat Island, Khalifa City, and Mohammed bin Zayed City, though authorities reported no fatalities in those specific locations.
UAE Diplomatic Adviser Dr. Anwar Gargash addressed the situation directly, telling Iran: “Your war is not with your neighbours.” According to Gulf News, Gargash argued that Iran’s strikes on Gulf states amounted to a strategic miscalculation that risks deepening its regional isolation at a particularly consequential moment.
The UAE Ministry of Defence characterised the attacks as a violation of national sovereignty and international law, stating the country reserves its full right to take all necessary protective measures.
