Ahmed Kamel – Egypt Daily News
Egyptian nationals were among dozens of people wounded after Iranian missile and drone attacks targeted US military assets in the United Arab Emirates, as the Gulf state’s air defence systems intercepted hundreds of incoming projectiles, according to official statements.
The UAE Ministry of Defence said 58 people sustained minor injuries in the attacks, including citizens and residents of multiple nationalities. Those injured included Emiratis, Egyptians, Ethiopians, Filipinos, Pakistanis, Iranians, Indians, Bangladeshis, Sri Lankans, Azerbaijanis, Yemenis, Ugandans, Eritreans, Lebanese and Afghans.
The ministry also confirmed the deaths of three foreign nationals from Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh.
The strikes came after the United States and Israel launched coordinated military operations against Iran on Saturday, effectively halting ongoing negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear programme. Iran responded with a wave of retaliatory attacks targeting Israel and US military positions across the Gulf region, including sites in Qatar, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Bahrain.
According to the UAE military, air defence systems have intercepted 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and 541 Iranian drones since the attacks began early Saturday. Of the ballistic missiles detected, 152 were successfully intercepted while 13 fell into the sea. All detected cruise missiles were destroyed.
The ministry added that 506 of the 541 drones were intercepted, while 35 managed to strike UAE territory, causing property damage.
On Sunday alone, the UAE Air Force and Air Defence Forces destroyed 20 ballistic missiles, eight of which fell into the sea in addition to two cruise missiles and 311 drones. However, 21 drones hit civilian targets, resulting in material damage.
The UAE military said it remains fully prepared to confront any threats and stressed that the safety of citizens, residents and visitors remains its highest priority.
Egypt condemned the attacks, describing them as violations of the sovereignty of Arab states, and called for diplomacy and dialogue to contain escalating regional tensions.
The incident has raised concerns among Egyptian communities abroad. Official estimates indicate that around 11 million Egyptians live overseas, with a significant proportion residing in Gulf countries.
