The Ministry of Defence stated loud sounds heard in scattered components of the nation have been brought on by interception operations. Fighter plane and ground-based techniques have been responding to aerial threats approaching UAE territory, it stated.
Residents have been urged to stay indoors, keep away from home windows and comply with official security directions. Cell alerts warned folks to not {photograph} or strategy falling particles, which might stay harmful after missiles or drones are destroyed within the air.
No rapid figures have been launched for the variety of incoming weapons or the places they appeared to focus on. There was additionally no preliminary affirmation of casualties or important injury within the UAE.
The renewed assault marked a pointy reversal after the nation had prevented direct Iranian strikes for a number of weeks. The UAE was closely focused throughout earlier phases of the battle, forcing authorities to activate layered missile defences and quickly alter aviation operations.
Sunday’s interceptions got here as Iran launched assaults throughout the Gulf following one other giant wave of US strikes on its navy infrastructure. Air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain, whereas safety alerts have been issued in Qatar and explosions have been heard round Doha. Kuwait and Jordan additionally raised their defence readiness.
The US stated its operation struck about 140 websites related to Iran’s missile, drone, radar and maritime capabilities. The assaults adopted an Iranian assault on a Cyprus-flagged container ship close to the Strait of Hormuz, the place Tehran has sought to impose restrictions on industrial visitors.
The vessel, GFS Galaxy, was severely broken after being struck and its crew deserted ship. One crew member was reported lacking. Iran stated the ship had switched off monitoring gear, ignored warnings and entered a prohibited navigation route.
Washington rejected that justification and described the assault as an assault on civilian transport. US forces stated the strikes have been supposed to cut back Iran’s capability to threaten vessels travelling by way of one of many world’s most essential power corridors.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz closed and warned transport corporations in opposition to coming into with out authorisation. Tehran has stated the waterway will stay restricted till US navy intervention within the area ends.
The strait hyperlinks Gulf producers with the Arabian Sea and carries roughly a fifth of the world’s petroleum liquids. Any sustained disruption can have an effect on oil costs, transport insurance coverage, freight prices and the provision of liquefied pure gasoline to worldwide markets.
The newest confrontation has positioned the UAE and different Gulf international locations in an more and more troublesome safety place. Their territory hosts navy services utilized by the USA, whereas their economies rely upon steady commerce, aviation, power exports and funding flows.
Abu Dhabi has repeatedly acknowledged that it doesn’t need its territory used for offensive operations in opposition to neighbouring states. It has additionally pressed for diplomacy, freedom of navigation and safety of civilian infrastructure all through the battle.
Iran has nonetheless accused Gulf governments of helping US navy operations. Gulf states have rejected the accusation and condemned assaults that place civilian communities, airports, ports and power installations in danger.
The UAE has invested closely in a layered air defence construction designed to counter weapons travelling at completely different speeds and altitudes. Its community consists of Patriot and Terminal Excessive Altitude Space Defence techniques, fighter plane, surveillance radars and command centres that coordinate responses to simultaneous threats.
Defending in opposition to combined assaults stays demanding as a result of drones, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles comply with completely different flight paths. Massive barrages will also be designed to overwhelm radar protection and pressure defenders to expend expensive interceptors.
Business aviation confronted renewed uncertainty as airways monitored airspace restrictions and attainable route adjustments. The UAE’s airports are among the many world’s busiest worldwide transit hubs, making any safety disruption important for passengers and international cargo networks.
