Abu Dhabi, March 3 /WAM/ The UAE government held a media briefing on the latest developments and current situation, with representatives from the Ministries of Defense, Interior, Foreign Affairs, Economy and Tourism, and the National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority.

In detail, the Ministry of Defense reviewed the latest operational developments and the state's efforts to protect its national sovereignty and ensure the security of citizens and residents. It also included extending sincere condolences and heartfelt sympathy to the families of the martyrs, with wishes for a speedy recovery for the injured. It affirmed that the UAE has never and will never accept any infringement on its sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity, and that the state retains its full right to take all necessary measures to repel any aggression against it.

Brigadier General Pilot Abdulnasser Al-Humidi, the official spokesman for the Ministry of Defense during the briefing, affirmed that the UAE is at the highest levels of readiness and possesses the capabilities, defense systems, and armaments, including national industries, that enable it to defend the state's territory and protect its people, regardless of the time frame and duration of escalation in the region. He stated that the state possesses diverse, integrated, and multi-layered air defense systems capable of effectively countering various aerial threats, with long, medium, and short-range systems ensuring comprehensive airspace coverage, and a sufficient strategic stockpile of munitions to ensure sustained engagement and response operations against all types of aerial threats for extended periods, maintaining combat readiness to protect the state's security and sovereignty.

The Ministry of Defense noted that the UAE air defenses have dealt with 186 ballistic missiles launched towards the state since the start of the Iranian attacks, destroying 172 missiles, while 13 fell into the sea and one fell within the state's territory. Additionally, 812 Iranian drones were tracked and 755 were destroyed, while 57 fell within the state's territory, along with tracking and destroying 8 cruise missiles. These caused some collateral damage, resulting in 3 deaths and 68 minor injuries, as well as minor to moderate material damage to a number of civilian properties.

It pointed out that the sounds heard in various areas of the country are the result of air defense systems intercepting ballistic missiles and UAE fighter jets engaging drones and cruise missiles.

The Ministry of Defense confirmed that all injuries and minor damages occurred as a result of the defensive operations, as the air defense systems succeeded in engaging hostile targets in a timely manner, which helped reduce the scale of damage and prevent greater loss of life and property. All necessary precautionary measures are being taken to ensure the safety of residents, in full coordination with various relevant authorities.

The Ministry of Defense affirmed during the briefing that the armed forces are monitoring field developments around the clock that may affect the state's security, airspace, territorial waters, or territory. The armed forces have taken effective and well-studied operational measures, including strengthening defensive deployments, raising combat readiness levels, and enhancing surveillance and early warning systems, to ensure the highest levels of readiness to protect the homeland and preserve its sovereignty, in addition to enhancing integration among various military units within a unified command that ensures rapid response and accurate execution in the face of any potential threat.

The Ministry added: 'The armed forces reiterate their full readiness to confront all threats, whatever their source or nature, and they will not relent or hesitate to take necessary deterrent actions to protect the security and stability of the homeland.'

The Ministry of Defense and the armed forces called on all citizens and residents in the country to strictly adhere to all directives and instructions issued by the competent authorities, and to fully comply with the approved preventive guidelines without any negligence, in order to enhance the state's overall readiness, preserve community safety, and support measures taken to protect national security and maintain stability.

It emphasized the importance of obtaining information exclusively from official sources and authorized channels in the United Arab Emirates, including statements issued by competent authorities and reliable national media outlets, warning against being swayed by rumors, circulating unverified news, or republishing information from unknown sources, as this has a direct negative impact on community security and public stability.

For her part, Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy, Minister of State for International Cooperation, began her speech by reassuring citizens, residents, and visitors, emphasizing that the people of the UAE are safe and secure, under careful and trustworthy hands, and that life is proceeding normally despite the magnitude of challenges, and the defense system operates with high efficiency around the clock to protect you all.

Her Excellency said: 'In recent days, the UAE, along with Gulf states and brotherly and friendly countries, has been subjected to a series of blatant Iranian attacks, in the context of a dangerous and unprecedented regional escalation,' without taking into account the UAE's clear position, which it has repeatedly affirmed, of not allowing its territory to be used in any military operation against Iran.

Her Excellency added: 'We thank all countries and international organizations that have expressed their solidarity, support, and backing for the UAE and its right to defend its sovereignty in accordance with customs, the United Nations Charter, and international law in the face of blatant aggressions.'

Her Excellency said: 'The UAE emphasizes that developments are handled with a balanced strategic approach, far from emotional rhetoric... and demands that the Iranian side immediately cease the aggressions it is carrying out against the UAE and neighboring countries.'

Her Excellency added that while the UAE renews its call for restraint and prioritizing serious and responsible dialogue and diplomatic solutions to overcome the current crisis, in a way that ensures security, stability, and prosperity for the peoples of the region, it stresses its full and legitimate right to self-defense in response to these aggressions, in accordance with Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, and to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and ensure the security and safety of its territory, citizens, residents, and visitors.

Her Excellency Reem Al Hashimy said: 'In the face of the flimsy pretexts and justifications put forward by Tehran, we must set the record straight and clarify that the UAE and the rest of the Arab Gulf states have made intensive efforts to avoid military confrontation and de-escalate tensions, out of their firm belief that military solutions generate crises and serious consequences for the region.'