UAE Air Defences Destroy 12 Ballistic Missiles & 17 Drones

The UAE Ministry of Defence reported that on March 9th, 2026, its air defence systems detected 15 ballistic missiles, of which 12 were destroyed, while 3 fell into the sea. In addition, 18 drones were detected, with 17 intercepted and 1 falling within UAE territory.

Since the start of what the ministry described as “blatant Iranian aggression,” a total of 253 ballistic missiles have been detected, of which 233 were destroyed, 18 fell into the sea, and 2 landed on UAE territory.

Meanwhile, 1,440 Iranian drones have been detected, with 1,359 intercepted and 81 falling within the country. The ministry also reported that 8 cruise missiles were detected and successfully destroyed.

Officials reiterated the UAE’s commitment to protecting its airspace and ensuring the safety of residents, stressing that all threats are being closely monitored and neutralised.