UAE air defences intercept 11 ballistic missiles and 27 drones from Iran on March 30
Ministry of Defence vows to protect sovereignty amid rising casualties and injuries
The UAE Ministry of Defence said on Monday that its air defence systems intercepted 11 ballistic missiles and 27 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) launched from Iran on March 30, 2026, as regional tensions continue to escalate.
Since the start of the blatant Iranian attacks, the country’s defences have engaged 425 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,941 UAVs, according to official figures.
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 eight others of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Palestinian and Indian nationalities.
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A total of 178 people were also injured, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate and severe. The injured included nationals of the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia, Sweden and Tunisia.
The Ministry of Defence affirmed that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the security of the country, in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability and safeguards its interests and national capabilities.
