New Delhi, May 4: After a pause of weeks, Iran tonight carried out fresh missile attacks at the United Arab Emirates (UAE), including in the oil-rich region of Fujairah, in which 3 Indians were injured.
The UAE said 12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles and 4 drones fired by Iran on May 4 were intercepted by its defence systems.
The Ministry of Defence of UAE said the projectiles were launched from Iran, and the interceptions resulted in three moderate injuries.
Fujairah, the main oil export facility of UAE, was the prime target of the Iranian attack and its location is critical for global energy needs as it bypasses the trouble-hit Strait of Hormuz.
The news about the Indians being injured was confirmed by the Indian Embassy in Dubai which said it is in contact with local authorities to ensure the injured receive adequate medical treatment and support.
“Three Indian nationals have been injured in today’s attacks in Fujairah. We are in touch with local authorities for ensuring adequate medical care and welfare of the affected Indian nationals,” said a statement issued by the Indian Mission in UAE.
“We are in touch with local authorities for ensuring adequate medical care and welfare of the affected Indian nationals,” it added.
No further details were disclosed.
Iranian attacks condemned:
Separately, the UAE strongly condemned the attacks, saying those targeted civilian sites and facilities using missiles and drones, resulting in injuries to the three Indian nationals.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of UAE described the attacks as a “serious escalation” and an “unacceptable act of aggression”.
It warned that the Iranian action constitutes a direct threat to UAE’s security, stability and territorial integrity.
It added that the attacks are a violation of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.
Since the start of the Iranian attacks on the UAE, air defence systems have dealt with 549 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles and 2,260 drones, the Defence Ministry of UAE said.
It added that with today’s incident, the total number of injuries in Iranian attacks has gone up to 227.
They include multiple nationalities, including Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese, Afghan, Bahraini, Comorian, Turkish, Iraqi, Nepali, Nigerian, Omani, Jordanian, Palestinian, Ghanaian, Indonesian, Swedish, Tunisian, Moroccan, and Russian.
The total number of killed has reached 3, including one civilian of Moroccan nationality contracted with the armed forces, while the total number of civilian fatalities stands at 10 from the following nationalities: Pakistani, Nepali, Bangladeshi, Palestinian, Indian, and Egyptian, it said.
The Ministry of Defence affirmed that it remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the security of the country, in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, security and stability and safeguards its interests and national capabilities.
