Abu Dhabi: Amid escalation of tensions in the Middle East, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday denied reports that it launched a retaliatory attack on Iran. The statement came amid reports that the UAE struck a desalination facility in Iran.
The country had long been contemplating attacking Iran after Tehran struck the UAE with several drones and missiles. Rejecting rumours of attacks, Dr Ali Rashid Ali Nuaimi, a member of the United Arab Emirates Federal National Council, called the reports as “fake news.”
Senior UAE leader shares message on X
“This is fake news. When we do something, we dare to announce it,” he wrote on X. He added in another post, “The UAE will never place the Iranian people in the same basket as the Iranian regime. The Iranian people are the real victims of that regime and the ones who suffer the most from its policies. As neighbours, we recognize this reality, and we care about their well-being.”
Earlier in the day, the UAE claimed that Iran launched as many as 16 ballistic missiles and over 117 drones. As per the country’s Defence Ministry, the UAE intercepted all 16 missiles, even as another one fell into the sea. Abu Dhabi further claimed that while most drones were intercepted, four fell in UAE territory. The ministry had also said that it was ready to “firmly confront” the threats.
Iranian President threatens to increase attacks
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian had earlier threatened to increase attacks on US targets in the Middle East amid an increase in tensions. The UAE did not share details the locations of attacks.
Tensions increased in the Middle East in recent times, following a joint operation by the US and Israel on Iran that led to the killing of country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Khamenei and several other top Iranian leaders and military officials. Vowing to take revenge, Iran too targeted US and Israeli military bases as wel as other countries in the region.