UAE Sri Lankans injured due to Iranian attacks

The UAE Ministry of Defence has officially confirmed that civilians in the United Arab Emirates have been harmed due to a series of missile and drone attacks suspected to be linked to Iran.

Three individuals, Pakistani, Nepali, and Bangladeshi nationals, have died as a result of these attacks, and another 58 people have sustained minor injuries.

It is reported that among the injured are nationals from the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, and Afghanistan, as well as Sri Lankans. However, the Ministry has not yet disclosed any specific information regarding the number or identity of the Sri Lankans among the injured.

The UAE Air Force and Air Defence Command state that in this series of Iranian attacks, which began on February 28, 2026, 165 ballistic missiles, 2 cruise missiles, and 541 Iranian drones have been identified to date.

The country's air defense systems were activated to successfully counter these missiles and drones, with 152 ballistic missiles destroyed in the air and the remaining 13 falling into the sea, authorities said. Additionally, security forces successfully destroyed both identified cruise missiles.

They managed to destroy 506 out of 541 continuous drone attacks mid-flight, but the remaining 35 drones crashed inside the country, causing property damage.

On the morning of the second day of the attack alone, 20 ballistic missiles were destroyed, and another 8 missiles fell into the sea. During the same period, security forces managed to destroy 2 cruise missiles and 311 drones, but 21 drones impacted civilian targets.

When missiles and drones were destroyed in the air by defense systems, their debris fell in various areas, causing minor to moderate damage to numerous civilian properties.

The UAE Ministry of Defence emphasizes that its armed forces are fully prepared to successfully face any threat, and that ensuring the safety of the country's citizens, residents, and tourists is its top priority.