UAE says air defenses intercept six hostile drones over past 48 hours

The United Arab Emirates said its air defence systems intercepted and neutralised six hostile drones over the past 48 hours that were attempting to target civilian and vital installations, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defence.

The ministry said the air defence forces responded with “high levels of readiness and efficiency,” preventing any casualties or damage to critical infrastructure.

It also said that, as part of ongoing investigations into an attack on the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant on May 17, 2026, technical tracking showed that three drones involved in that incident originated from Iraqi territory. Two were intercepted, while a third struck an external electrical generator outside the plant’s inner perimeter.

The statement added that the additional drones intercepted in the past two days were also traced back to the same origin, according to monitoring and analysis results.

The Ministry of Defence said the UAE reserves its full right to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and national security in accordance with international law. It also stressed that the armed forces remain fully prepared to deal with any threats targeting the country’s security and national capabilities.