UAE confirms over 1,000 Iranian attacks, asserts right to self-defense

2026-03-03 - 23:52

The United Arab Emirates issued a firm statement Tuesday detailing the scale of Iranian attacks it has confronted while emphasizing its neutral position in the widening regional conflict. The UAE Foreign Ministry announced that the country has faced more than 1,000 attacks since escalation began, with armed forces countering them with "professionalism and efficiency"—a figure exceeding the combined total faced by other affected states. UAE asserts defensive rights The ministry stressed that the UAE retains the right to defend itself under international law and the UN Charter despite repeated Iranian attacks. However, it emphasized that the Gulf nation "is not a party to the war and has not permitted the use of its territory, territorial waters or airspace for any attack on Iran," describing its position as consistent with policies of de-escalation and good neighborliness. The careful wording seeks to balance self-defense rights with maintaining neutrality in the US-Israeli campaign against Tehran. Tuesday's incidents The statement followed several security incidents Tuesday. Dubai authorities reported that a limited fire near the US Consulate was extinguished after a drone strike, with no injuries recorded. Separately, the UAE Defense Ministry announced that air defenses intercepted 11 ballistic missiles and 123 drones, though one missile fell inside the country without causing casualties. These incidents represent the latest in a sustained Iranian campaign targeting Gulf states hosting US assets. Regional context Tensions have spiraled since Saturday, when the US and Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran that have killed nearly 800 people, according to Iranian figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior commanders. Tehran has responded with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, drawing the UAE and its neighbors into a conflict they have sought to avoid. The UAE's statement reflects the difficult position of Gulf states caught between their security relationships with Washington and Iranian retaliation that treats them as legitimate targets.