Booms from intercepts were heard above Dubai on Monday after an air raid alert was sounded and residents took shelter for the first time since the ceasefire in the Iran war, Euronews journalists on the ground reported.
The UAE confirmed the strikes originated from Iran later on Monday, issuing a “condemnation of the renewed treacherous Iranian terrorist attacks targeting civilian sites and facilities in the country using missiles and drones.”
Three Indian nationals were injured in the strikes, according to authorities.
“The UAE stressed that it will not compromise on protecting its security and sovereignty under any circumstances and that it reserves its full and legitimate right to respond to these attacks in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, national security, territorial integrity, citizens, residents, and visitors, in accordance with international law,” the statement said.
The statement further added that the UAE “also held Iran fully responsible for these treacherous attacks and their repercussions.”
The UAE authorities initially issued a mobile phone alert for a potential missile attack prior to the intercepts.
“Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, immediately seek a safe place in the closest secure building,” the message read.
A message followed, stating that the situation was “now safe” and that the residents could continue normal activities while taking “necessary precautions”.
Another alert warned residents to “seek a safe place” and “await further instructions” due to “potential missile threats” on Monday afternoon.
Meanwhile, the UAE authorities confirmed that the explosions heard “in different parts of the country” were a result of the successful interception of “threats”.
Earlier on Monday, the UAE said that Iran had fired two drones at a tanker affiliated with its state oil company ADNOC in the Strait of Hormuz, condemning the attack.
“Targeting commercial shipping and using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of economic coercion or blackmail represents acts of piracy by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps,” the foreign ministry said, adding that no one had been injured.
The UAE called the incident a “flagrant violation” of UN Security Council Resolution 2817.