UAE detects two ballistic missiles fired from Iran, one falls in territorial waters

The Ministry of Defence announced that the UAE air defences detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the country on August 18th, with the first falling outside the country's territorial waters, while the second fell within the territorial waters.

The Ministry of Defence confirmed in a statement that it is on high alert and fully prepared to deal with any threats, and to firmly confront anything aimed at undermining the security of the state, thereby ensuring the preservation of its sovereignty, security, and stability, and protecting its interests and national capabilities.

It also urged the public to obtain all news from official sources in the country and to avoid rumors and false information.

The statement came nearly two hours after a brief phone alert warned UAE residents of a "potential missile threat".

"Due to the current situation, potential missile threats, immediately seek a safe place in the closest secure building," the interior ministry said in the phone alert, which was lifted shortly after.

It was the first such alert since a false alarm in June and an alert in July for an attack that ultimately did not enter UAE territory. Before that, the last missile warning came in early May.

Tankers belonging to state-owned oil company ADNOC have been repeatedly targeted in the past few weeks.

When the Middle East war began on February 28, the UAE bore the brunt of Iran's attacks, with nearly 3,000 missiles and drones directed at the country -- more than anywhere else in the region.

After a memorandum of understanding came into effect in June between the two parties, which has since collapsed, the UAE reported no attacks, unlike other Gulf states.

Agencies