March 2 ( Citizen.lk News)-Sri Lankan nationals are among those who have succumbed to injuries following a large-scale aerial assault by Iran on the United Arab Emirates.
The UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed on X that while their advanced air defense systems neutralized the vast majority of threats, several foreign residents, including Sri Lankans, were caught in the crossfire.
The Ministry revealed that since the start of the Iranian attack on February 28, 2026, the UAE has faced a barrage of 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 541 drones.
On the second morning of the assault, UAE forces successfully destroyed 20 ballistic missiles and 311 drones, though 21 drones managed to strike civilian targets.
Three fatalities have been confirmed involving nationals from Pakistan, Nepal, and Bangladesh, while 58 people sustained minor injuries. This group includes Sri Lankans, as well as individuals from the UAE, India, Pakistan, Egypt, the Philippines, and several other nations.
Intercepted debris and direct hits caused minor to moderate damage to several civilian properties across various areas of the country.
Of the 165 ballistic missiles detected, 152 were destroyed while 13 fell into the sea, and both detected cruise missiles were successfully neutralized. Out of 541 detected drones, 506 were intercepted and destroyed, while 35 fell within the country causing material damage.
The Ministry of Defence stressed that its forces remain at full readiness to address ongoing threats, maintaining that the safety of citizens, residents, and visitors remains a top priority that cannot be compromised.
The Ministry of Defence has announced that the UAE air force and air defence forces have so far dealt with 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and 541 Iranian drones since the start of the Iranian attack.
— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) March 1, 2026
The ministry said that on the morning of the second day of the… pic.twitter.com/rj8e5iXrQ5
Source: Ministry of Defence UAE on X
