ISTANBUL

The United Arab Emirates said Monday its air defense systems engaged seven ballistic missiles and 16 drones from Iran.

In a statement, the Defense Ministry said that the country’s air defenses had intercepted 352 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,789 drones since the start of Iranian attacks on Feb. 28.

According to the ministry, two soldiers and six civilians of Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi and Palestinian nationalities were killed and 161 people of different nationalities injured in the attacks.

The ministry stressed that it remains “fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats,” and confront “any attempts to undermine state security in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability, and safeguards its national interests and capabilities.”

Regional escalation has continued to flare since the US and Israel launched a joint offensive on Iran on Feb. 28, killing so far over 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, along with Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.