One Killed in Abu Dhabi as UAE Intercepts Iranian Missiles

Abu Dhabi: At least one person has been killed in the UAE capital after shrapnel from intercepted Iranian ballistic missiles fell in a residential area, according to the country’s state news agency WAM and multiple international reports.

The incident occurred early Saturday amid a dramatic escalation in the region, following joint US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets, including sites in Tehran. Iran responded with waves of missiles and drones targeting Israel and US military assets across the Gulf.

UAE air defenses, including advanced systems, successfully intercepted several incoming Iranian ballistic missiles aimed at the country, reportedly including threats toward Al Dhafra Air Base, which hosts US forces. However, debris from the interceptions caused material damage and resulted in the fatality — described in some accounts as an individual of Asian nationality — along with reports of explosions and smoke visible across parts of Abu Dhabi.

The UAE Ministry of Defense condemned the attack as a “flagrant violation of national sovereignty and international law,” reserving the right to respond to the escalation. Airspace over the UAE was temporarily restricted as a precaution, with residents in some areas receiving emergency alerts to shelter in secure locations and avoid windows due to ongoing missile threats.

Explosions were also reported in nearby Gulf states hosting US bases, including Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar, where interceptors downed additional Iranian projectiles. No widespread casualties have been confirmed at US installations, though the situation remains fluid with Iran’s Revolutionary Guard claiming strikes on multiple American facilities in the region.

This marks a significant broadening of the conflict, drawing in Gulf Arab states and raising fears of a wider regional war. Oil prices surged on the developments, and airlines canceled flights to affected areas.

The UAE emphasized defensive measures while calling for de-escalation, as the fast-moving crisis continues to unfold.