Two Ghanaian nationals, one Bangladeshi national, and one Indian national were injured after two drones fell in the area surrounding Dubai International Airport on Wednesday.
In a statement shared on X, the Government of Dubai Media Office said, "Authorities confirm that two drones fell in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport (DXB) a short while ago, resulting in minor injuries to two Ghanaian nationals and one Bangladeshi national, and moderate injuries to one Indian national. Air traffic is operating as normal."
Earlier in the day, the UAE's Ministry of Defence announced that its air defence systems were responding to incoming missile and drone attacks from Iran and urged residents to follow safety and security instructions issued by the authorities.
"The UAE's air defences are currently responding to incoming missile and drone attacks from Iran. The MoD asserts that the sounds heard are the result of air defence systems intercepting missiles and drones. The public are requested to adhere to the safety and security instructions issued," the ministry posted on X.
The missile strikes by Iran on the UAE come in retaliation for the ongoing joint US-Israel strikes that began on February 28.
On Tuesday, the UAE's Ministry of Defence said its air defence systems detected nine ballistic missiles, eight of which were destroyed, while one fell into the sea.
The air defences also detected 35 unmanned aerial vehicles, of which 26 were intercepted, while nine fell within the country's territory.
In another statement shared on X, the ministry said, "A total of 1,475 Iranian UAVs have been detected, of which 1,385 were intercepted, while 90 fell within the country's territory. Eight cruise missiles were also detected and destroyed."
"These attacks resulted in six deaths among Emirati, Pakistani, Nepalese and Bangladeshi nationals, while 122 people sustained moderate to minor injuries. The injured include nationals of the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, the Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan and Palestine," it added.
The ministry expressed its readiness to deal with any threats and said it would respond firmly to attempts to undermine the UAE's security, protect its sovereignty and stability, and safeguard national interests.
Meanwhile, at least nine people were killed in strikes on the Iranian city of Aligudarz during ongoing attacks by the United States and Israel, according to Iran's semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The casualties occurred as fighting between Iran and its adversaries continued to intensify across the region.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian told Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif that Iran has no intention of entering into conflict with other countries in the region, according to Iranian state media. He also warned that global order and security could be threatened if the international community fails to hold those responsible for the ongoing war accountable.
Iran's new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, is "safe and sound" despite reports suggesting he may have been injured during the ongoing conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, AFP reported. Yousef Pezeshkian said contacts had confirmed that Khamenei had not been harmed.
In Sri Lanka, a court directed authorities to hand over the bodies of 84 sailors killed in last week's attack on the Iranian naval vessel IRIS Dena to the Iranian embassy, local media reported. The sailors were aboard the warship when it was struck by a torpedo allegedly fired from a US submarine in the Indian Ocean. The vessel was returning from a naval exercise hosted by India at the time.
Saudi Arabia said early Wednesday that its air defence systems intercepted and destroyed five drones flying toward the strategic Shaybah Oil Field, which were targeting key energy infrastructure. The interception comes amid heightened regional tensions and growing concerns over attacks on vital oil facilities in the Middle East.
The Islamic Resistance of Iraq, a pro-Iran militia group, claimed it carried out 31 attacks against US forces in Iraq and other locations across the region over the past day. The group said it has launched 291 attacks in the last 12 days, alleging casualties and injuries among US troops during the ongoing regional conflict.
