The United Arab Emirates says it has neutralized most of a large-scale airstrike involving drones and missiles launched by Iran.
Defense systems detected 1,422 drones during the offensive and intercepted 1,342 of them before they reached their targets, according to the country’s defense ministry. The ministry also said eight maneuvering drones were identified and shot down.
Despite the high interception rate, some of the threats got through the defenses. According to the official report, 80 drones crashed inside the territory of the Emirates. In the case of ballistic missiles, 238 launches were detected: 221 of these were destroyed by air defense, 15 fell into the sea, and two hit land.
Footage released by the armed forces shows the moment when the attack drones are destroyed in the air by the defense systems. The Ministry of Defense emphasized that the recordings prove the country’s ability to identify and neutralize various aerial threats. In a statement, the government said there would be no concessions when it comes to national security and sovereignty.
Most of the drones used in the attack were reportedly similar to the Shahed model, which is often used in regional conflicts. This type of device works as a so-called “stray munition”: it flies towards the target and explodes on impact. Due to their low cost and difficulty being detected by radar, these drones are often launched in large numbers to try to overwhelm air defense systems.
Source: Defence Blog | Photo: X @modgovae | This content is generated with the help of artificial intelligence and verified 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
