No fewer than six persons have been confirmed dead after the United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems intercepted multiple aerial threats launched from Iran on amid escalating tension in the region.

The UAE ministry of defence, in a statement on X on Saturday, said, “UAE air defence systems on 14th March engaged 9 ballistic missiles and 33 UAVs launched from Iran.”

The ministry, which stated that the latest interceptions formed part of a broader pattern of hostilities since “the onsets of the blatant Iranian aggression”, said its forces had been forced to activate their air defence systems against incoming threats targeted at the country.

“UAE air defences have engaged 294 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1600 UAVs launched from Iran,” it explained.

The ministry further confirmed that the latest attacks have resulted in casualties and multiple injuries involving people from several nationalities living and working in the country.

It added, “These attacks have resulted in 6 fatalities of Emirati, Pakistani, Nepali and Bangladeshi nationals, and 141 minor to moderate injuries among nationals of the UAE, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Pakistan, Iran, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Azerbaijan, Yemen, Uganda, Eritrea, Lebanon, Afghanistan, Bahrain, Comoros, Türkiye, Iraq, Nepal, Nigeria, Oman, Jordan, Palestine, Ghana, Indonesia and Sweden.”

The ministry reaffirmed its preparedness to deal with any threats and safeguard its national interests and capabilities, adding “it will firmly confront any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability”.

The latest development came after the government of Qatar forwarded another formal complaint to the United Nations and the United Nations Security Council over repeated military aggression by Iran against its territory and its implications for security in the region.