UAE says air defense systems intercept missiles, drones

The Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) said Sunday that its air defense systems had intercepted 16 ballistic missiles and 113 drones launched toward the country earlier in the day.

According to the ministry, 17 ballistic missiles and 117 drones were detected on Sunday. Sixteen ballistic missiles and 113 drones were intercepted, while one missile fell into the sea and four drones landed within the country's territory.

The ministry said that since the start of what it described as Iranian attacks, a total of 238 ballistic missiles and 1,422 drones had been detected, with most intercepted by air defense systems.

The development came amid heightened regional tensions following joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting on Feb. 28, to which Iran responded with missile and drone attacks on Israel and U.S. assets across the Middle East.