Gulf states risk depleting air defenses against Iranian missiles and drones

The UAE Ministry of Defence said... air defence systems had successfully intercepted and destroyed nine ballistic missiles, six cruise missiles and 148 drones during attacks launched by Iran.

Since the beginning of the assault, a total of 174 ballistic missiles had been detected... 161 were intercepted and destroyed, while 13 fell into the sea.

The ministry strongly condemned the attacks, describing them as a blatant act of aggression and a serious violation of national sovereignty and international law.

The UAE reserves the full right to respond to the escalation and to take all necessary measures to protect its territory, citizens and residents.

Iran’s noisy $50,000 delta-winged Shahed 136 drones have long been an unwanted sight over the skies of Ukraine.

Hundreds of the distinctive weapons have struck Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE and across the Gulf as Tehran tries to intimidate regional US allies.

On Monday afternoon, the UAE said it had been attacked by 689 drones and had downed 645 – meaning 44 drones, a little over 6%, got through.

Iran may have success if it copies the Ukraine tactic: hitting static targets like refineries to cause major infrastructure disruption.

The distinctive buzz of Iranian-designed drones has become a familiar sound in Ukraine… Now, it’s increasingly heard across the Persian Gulf.

Available in big numbers, the drones have shown their capability to oversaturate air defenses and inflict painful damage at a very low cost.

Following the weekend U.S. and Israeli attacks, Iran… unleashed a barrage of hundreds of missiles and drones on multiple targets in Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE.

State-of-the-art U.S. and Israeli air defense assets have proven efficient… But the attacks using large numbers of cheap drones hit some softer targets lacking the same level of protection.

A Jewish-American national security group is sounding an alarm about how America and Israel’s enemies may exploit low missile stockpiles.

Both the U.S. and Israel now face an 'urgent need' to replace those stocks and sharply increase production rates.

Iran used up between a third and a half of its ballistic missile arsenal... suggesting assertions it could strike Israel for years were overblown.

If the U.S. and Israel fail to urgently replenish their interceptor inventories... they risk entering the next crisis with dangerously thin defenses.

Iran struck the U.S. Embassy in Saudi Arabia’s capital with a drone early Tuesday as it kept hitting targets around the region.

The United States and Israel pounded Iran with airstrikes in what U.S. President Donald Trump suggested was just the start of a campaign.

The expanding conflict has so far killed hundreds of people, the vast majority in Iran.

Trump said the military campaign’s objectives are to destroy Iran’s missile capabilities, wipe out its navy and prevent it from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

The UAE was targeted by Iranian strikes for a second day on Sunday as the authorities mounted a defence of the country.

Iran's aggression against the Gulf states missed its target and isolated Iran at its critical moment. Your war is not with your neighbours.

We will leave no stone unturned to make sure that we do defend ourselves… We, of course, do not want further escalation. We are calling for calm.

Hotels and malls remain open with precautionary measures, as authorities urge remote work and advise keeping workers away from open spaces.

The UAE has strongly condemned the recent Iranian missile attacks... as a blatant violation of national sovereignty and a breach of international law.

Authorities stressed that the UAE retains the full right to respond to protect its sovereignty, citizens, and national security.

NCEMA confirmed that the situation is under control, with continuous monitoring and rapid response mechanisms activated.

Residents are urged to rely solely on official sources and avoid spreading unverified information or rumours.

The United Arab Emirates has sold itself to foreigners for years as a sunny, safe, tax-free oasis. That peaceful image was shattered Saturday.

Iran has hit the UAE and several of its neighbors as it strikes back from the major attack by U.S. and Israeli forces, causing fear and chaos.

‘This is Dubai’s ultimate nightmare, as its very essence depended on being a safe oasis in a troubled region,’ wrote a Gulf expert.

The Ministry of Defense said air defenses had dealt with 165 ballistic missiles, two cruise missiles and more than 540 Iranian drones over two days.

Iran’s noisy $50,000 delta-winged Shahed 136 drones have long been an unwanted sight over the skies of Ukraine.

Hundreds of the distinctive weapons have struck Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE and across the Gulf as Tehran tries to intimidate and impose costs.

On Monday afternoon, the UAE said it had been attacked by 689 drones and had downed 645 – meaning 44 drones, a little over 6%, got through.

Their noise, their large size and final terminal dive readily provoke terror.

Lockheed Martin signed a framework agreement with the Defense Department to quadruple production of the THAAD missile interceptors from 96 to 400 per year.

The advanced anti-missile battery has been deployed to the Middle East amid concerns about attacks on U.S. bases and regional partners by Iran or regional proxy groups.

The rapid production expansion appears to signal Pentagon concerns about missile threats and interceptor shortages.

Lockheed plans to spend billions of dollars over the next three years to expand production capacity and modernize more than 20 facilities.