ISTANBUL

The United Arab Emirates said Thursday that its air defenses had intercepted 15 ballistic missiles and 11 drones from Iran, as regional escalation continues to rage on.

The Defense Ministry reported the attack but did not provide details on injuries or damage.

According to the ministry, air defenses had shot down 372 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,826 drones since the start of Iranian attacks on Feb. 28.

The ministry said two soldiers and eight civilians of different nationalities were killed and 169 others injured in the attacks.

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

Tehran 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.