UAE air defense intercepted 19 ballistic missiles and 26 drones from Iran on April 2, 2026

The UAE Ministry of Defence said on Thursday that air defenses engaged 19 ballistic missiles and 26 drones originating from Iran.

Since the start of Iran's brazen attacks, the UAE air defenses have engaged 457 ballistic missiles, 19 cruise missiles, and 2,038 drones.

The attacks have resulted in casualties, including two members of the UAE Armed Forces killed while on duty. 

A Moroccan civilian working under contract with the military was also killed, along with 9 civilians of Pakistani, Nepalese, Bangladeshi, Palestinian, and Indian nationalities.

A total of 191 were also injured, ranging from minor to moderate to severe, of Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese, Afghan, Bahraini, Comorian, Turkish, Iraqi, Nepalese, Nigerian, Omani, Jordanian, Palestinian, Ghanaian, Indonesian, Swedish, and Tunisian nationalities.

The Ministry of Defense affirms that it is on high alert and readiness to deal with any threats and to firmly counter all that targets the undermining of the state's security, in a manner that ensures the preservation of its sovereignty, security, and stability, and protects its interests and national capabilities.