UAE says it detected 2 incoming ballistic missiles launched from Iran

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Defense Ministry on Tuesday announced that the country's air-defense systems had detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran.

Assessments show that the missiles "were targeting maritime navigation and fell into the sea," the ministry said in a statement on US social media company X.

In an earlier statement, the ministry said the UAE “remains fully prepared and ready to respond to any threats, and to firmly counter any attempts to undermine the country’s security.”

Tensions in the Middle East have heightened after the US and Israel launched joint strikes on Iran. In response, Tehran retaliated with strikes in regional countries, including the UAE, hosting US assets.

In mid-June, Iran and the US signed a memorandum of understanding under Pakistani mediation aimed at ending their war and reaching a lasting peace agreement.

Talks, however, have since broken down amid ongoing disputes over the memorandum’s terms and navigation through the Hormuz Strait, a critical route for global energy exports.