May 4 strike: UAE downs 12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles and 4 drones
In a statement, the ministry said the projectiles were launched from Iran, marking the latest escalation in a series of ongoing attacks targeting the country
05 May, 2026
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The UAE’s air defence systems intercepted a new wave of aerial threats on May 4, 2026, successfully engaging 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles, and four unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), according to the Ministry of Defence.
The incident resulted in three moderate injuries, officials confirmed.
Read more-UAE successfully intercepts most of 1,100+ missiles, drones since Feb 28
In a statement, the ministry said the projectiles were launched from Iran, marking the latest escalation in a series of ongoing attacks targeting the country.
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Since the beginning of what officials described as “blatant Iranian attacks,” UAE air defences have intercepted a total of 549 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles, and 2,260 UAVs, an Instagram post on the UAE’s Ministry of Defence official Instagram account said.
Authorities reported that the cumulative number of injuries has now reached 227, spanning a wide range of nationalities, reflecting the UAE’s diverse population.
Casualties and nationalities
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that three individuals have been killed, since the onset of the conflict including one Moroccan civilian contracted with the armed forces. In addition, 10 civilian fatalities have been recorded among several nationalities, including Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Palestinian, Indian, and Egyptian.
“The Ministry of Defence remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats,” the statement said, adding that authorities will “firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the security of the country.” Officials stressed that all necessary measures are being taken to safeguard national sovereignty, stability, and strategic interests.























