A Bangladeshi national was among three people killed in the United Arab Emirates following a massive exchange of missiles and drones between Iran, Israel, and the United States.
The deceased include one Bangladeshi, one Pakistani, and one Nepalese national.
Additionally, at least 58 people sustained minor injuries, including citizens from Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and the UAE, among others.
The identity of the deceased Bangladeshi national could not be confirmed at the time of filing the report.
The conflict intensified on Saturday morning, after Israel and the US initiated a joint military operation against Iran. Iran responded with retaliatory strikes aimed at US military bases across the Middle East.
While the UAE Ministry of Defence reported that the majority of projectiles were intercepted, some drones bypassed defences, causing fatalities and damage on the ground.
Massive aerial onslaught
According to the UAE Ministry of Defence, Iran launched a total of 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles, and 541 drones toward the country over a two-day period.
On the second day of the strikes alone, the UAE Air Defence Forces destroyed 20 ballistic missiles and intercepted 311 drones. Throughout the engagement, 152 ballistic missiles were successfully destroyed, while 13 fell into the sea.
Both cruise missiles were intercepted. Of the 541 drones detected, 506 were destroyed, but 35 reached UAE territory, striking civilian targets and causing material damage to properties.
The ministry noted that debris from intercepted projectiles fell in scattered areas, leading to minor and moderate damage to civilian infrastructure, including hotels and airports in Dubai and Kuwait.
Iran’s strategic boundaries
Despite the casualties and damage to civilian areas, Ali Larijani, head of Iran’s National Security Council, denied that Tehran intended to attack regional Arab states.
Larijani stated that Iran’s targets were strictly US military facilities, arguing that such bases are considered “the territory of the United States” rather than the territory of the host countries.
“We had told the United States through the Swiss embassy that if you attack this time, we will hit your bases,” Larijani said in remarks carried by state media.
He further claimed that the Iranian armed forces remain in control and that the number of “martyrs” on the Iranian side was very small compared to previous conflicts.
The UAE remains on high alert and ready to respond to further threats. The Ministry of Defence emphasised that the safety of citizens and residents is its top priority and urged the public to rely only on official information.
