A person of Asian nationality is dead after shrapnel from an Iranian ballistic missile attack struck a residential area in Abu Dhabi, the UAE’s Ministry of Defense confirmed Saturday, marking a severe deterioration in regional security.
According to a WAM report, UAE air defense systems intercepted a number of the incoming missiles, the ministry said, describing the response as highly efficient. Authorities also managed the consequences of debris that reached populated areas, with material damage reported alongside the single fatality.
The ministry did not mince words in its characterization of the strike, calling it a flagrant violation of national sovereignty and international law. It described the targeting of civilian infrastructure as a cowardly act and a dangerous escalation that puts civilian lives at risk and destabilizes the broader region.
Abu Dhabi has explicitly reserved the right to respond. The ministry stated that the UAE retains full authority to take all measures it deems necessary to protect its territory, people, and national interests — language that stops short of announcing a specific retaliatory action but leaves that door open.
Security agencies said the overall situation across the country remains under control, with continuous around-the-clock monitoring in place. The ministry added that it is fully prepared to confront any further threats to state security and stability.
The public has been told to seek information exclusively from official government sources and to refrain from sharing unverified reports.
