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Iran Hits UAE With Ballistic Missiles as Retaliation Spreads to Abu Dhabi and Dubai
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The Iranian military has significantly escalated its regional counteroffensive by launching a “blatant attack” with ballistic missiles against the United Arab Emirates.
According to the UAE Ministry of Defense and Reuters, Emirati air defense systems successfully intercepted a number of incoming missiles over Abu Dhabi and Dubai on Saturday, February 28, 2026.
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The Emirati state news agency WAM confirmed the first known fatality of the Iranian counterattack: an Asian national was killed in Abu Dhabi after being struck by falling missile debris in a residential area.
Witnesses in the capital reported hearing five rapid-succession “booms” that caused windows to vibrate across the city’s Corniche district.
BREAKING:
— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) February 28, 2026
At least one person has been killed in the UAE following Iranian strikes.
Authorities stated that the country reserves the “full right” to respond to the Iranian attack.
🇦🇪 pic.twitter.com/9cJKp9Qw8k
A primary target of the Iranian barrage was the Al Dhafra Air Base, a major operational hub located near Abu Dhabi that houses the US Air Force’s 380th Expeditionary Wing.
According to Defense Industry Europe and The Guardian, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) specifically targeted the base as part of its “True Promise 4” operation.
Military sources indicate that the THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) system, operated by Emirati forces in coordination with the US, was engaged to neutralize the threats.
At least one person has been killed in Abu Dhabi after the UAE said it intercepted several missiles launched from Iran.
— BPI News (@BPINewsOrg) February 28, 2026
Further explosions have been reported in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with airspace closed.
The UAE called the strike a “flagrant violation”.#Iran pic.twitter.com/MChMiJYO8f
At least two ballistic missiles were reportedly intercepted directly over the base, which supports critical reconnaissance and aerial refueling missions for US forces in the Middle East.
The UAE government has condemned the strike as a “flagrant violation of national sovereignty and international law.” According to The Hindu, the UAE has officially reserved its right to respond to this escalation.
In a proactive security measure, the UAE’s aviation regulator announced the temporary and partial closure of national airspace, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights at Dubai International (DXB) and Abu Dhabi (AUH) airports.
The US Embassy in the UAE has instructed all government personnel and their families in Abu Dhabi and Dubai to “shelter-in-place” until further notice.
On February 28, Israel carried out strikes on Tehran. The United States expressed support for the operation and announced “Operation Epic Fury.” US President Donald Trump accused Iran of “financing and training” militants in Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and Hamas in Palestine.
Trump said the objective of the US military operation was the “destruction of Iran’s missile industry and fleet” and “ensuring Iran’s inability to destabilize the world.”
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