The United Arab Emirates says it has neutralized the majority of a major airstrike involving drones and missiles launched by Iran.
According to the country’s Ministry of Defense, the defense systems registered 1,422 drones during the offensive and managed to intercept 1,342 of them before they hit their targets. The ministry also stated that eight cruise missiles were identified and shot down.
Despite the high interception rate, some of the threats managed to pass the defence. According to the official report, 80 drones hit the ground within the territory of the Emirates. As for ballistic missiles, 238 launches were recorded: 221 were destroyed by the air force, while 15 fell into the sea and two hit land.
Footage released by the armed forces shows the moment attack drones are destroyed in the air by defense systems. The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the footage shows the country’s ability to identify and neutralize various types of air threats. In a statement, the government said no concessions will be made in terms of national security and sovereignty.
A large part of the drones used in the attack are said to be similar to the Shahed model, which is often used in regional conflicts. This type of equipment works as so-called loitering ammunition, which flies towards the target and detonates on impact. Due to low cost and difficult radar detection, these drones are often sent up in large numbers to attempt to overwhelm air defense systems.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @modgovae | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editors
Footage shows the UAE air defenses intercepting and destroying Iranian drones that attempted to target the country.
Do not compromise the security and sovereignty of the nation… and the UAE Armed Forces are ready to deter any threat.
Footage showing the UAE’s air defences intercepting and destroying Iranian UAVs that attempted to… pic.twitter.com/vvHmZkcBri
— Ministry of Defense |MOD UAE (@modgovae) March 8, 2026
