UAE intercepts Iranian drone over territorial waters

The United Arab Emirates air force intercepted an Iranian drone that entered its territorial waters on Monday, the defence ministry said. The ministry added that the drone was detected approaching from Iran and was neutralised without causing damage.

The foreign ministry described the incident as “a dangerous escalation” that violated the UAE’s sovereignty, security and stability and threatened the safety of its citizens and residents.

The UAE defence ministry later rejected Iranian claims that the Al Minhad air base in Dubai had been targeted, calling the allegation false.

The drone interception follows a series of recent hostilities in the region, including a U.S. strike on Iranian rocket launchers on an Iranian island on Sunday and Iran’s subsequent missile launches at U.S. sites in Jordan, which were intercepted.

Iran’s foreign ministry warned that Tehran would “not hesitate to exercise the inherent right of legitimate defence and will respond decisively to any military aggression.”

U.S. Central Command described its strike on the Iranian launchers as a limited, precise action against forces preparing to lay sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane.

The incident occurs amid heightened economic pressure on Iran by the United States and its allies, and after the UAE suspended trade with Iran following earlier missile incidents in the Persian Gulf.