The Ministry of Defense in the United Arab Emirates announced early Sunday morning that air defense systems are effectively confronting a large-scale missile attack and drones launched from Iranian territory. The ministry clarified in an official statement that air defenses are currently dealing with threats including ballistic and cruise missiles, in addition to unmanned aerial vehicles that attempted to penetrate the country's sovereign airspace.
UAE authorities reassured citizens and residents that the loud sounds heard in various parts of the country are a direct result of successful interception operations carried out by air protection units. Official sources confirmed that the armed forces are on full alert to monitor and secure air borders against any additional attacks that may target vital installations or residential areas.
This attack coincides with the US Central Command's announcement of the start of a third round of concentrated airstrikes against military targets deep inside Iran. The US military action came in response to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps targeting the Cypriot-flagged container ship 'M/V GFS Galaxy' while it was transiting the Strait of Hormuz, causing severe damage to the ship and the loss of one of its crew members.
Informed sources reported that the US attacks precisely targeted Iran's air and surface surveillance radar network, in addition to strategic missile and drone depots. The list of targets also included missile launch sites and surface-to-air defense launchers in an attempt to curb Tehran's ability to threaten international navigation and regional installations.
Inside Iran, media reports confirmed a series of violent explosions in coastal and southern areas, with the sound of shelling heard in Bushehr city and the strategic port of Bandar Abbas. Sources indicated that more than ten explosions occurred in Hormozgan province, in addition to targeting sites on Qeshm and Sirik islands, amid a state of confusion among local forces.
For its part, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps announced the complete closure of the Strait of Hormuz to international navigation until further notice, considering this step a response to what it described as illegal American interventions. The Revolutionary Guard warned in a statement that any new attack would be met with a decisive and strong response, claiming it had fired warning shots at ships that attempted to take unauthorized routes.
In a related context, the US Secretary of Defense stressed that the Iranian leadership made a 'bad choice' by targeting commercial vessels, confirming that they are now paying a heavy price as a result of this escalation. The Secretary indicated that the United States will continue to destroy the military capabilities used by Tehran to attack civilian mariners and ensure freedom of navigation in international waterways.
_The effects of the military escalation extended to neighboring countries, as authorities in the Kingdom of Bahrain activated sirens in several areas as a precautionary measure following the US strikes on Iran. The region is experiencing a state of extreme tension with the continued sound of explosions and rising smoke columns from the targeted installations, especially in the Fujairah petroleum industries area, which witnessed intensive defensive activity.
International powers are closely monitoring developments in the Gulf region, amid calls for restraint and avoiding a slide into a comprehensive regional war. This direct confrontation between UAE air defenses and Iranian threats represents a dangerous shift in the course of the conflict, especially with US forces entering as a direct party in targeting the military infrastructure of the Revolutionary Guard.
UAE air defenses are currently dealing with missile attacks and drones coming from Iran, and the audible sounds are a result of the interception systems.
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UAE Intercepts Iranian Missile and Drone Attack Amid Widespread Military Escalation in the Gulf