UAE Air Force responds to drone approaching from Iran over territorial waters

DUBAI, Aug 31: The United Arab Emirates said Monday that its Air Force responded to a drone detected over the country’s territorial waters after it approached from the direction of Iran, as regional tensions continued to escalate following a US strike on Iranian territory.

The UAE Ministry of Defense said the unmanned aerial vehicle was detected over Emirati territorial waters and that the Air Force responded to the incident. The ministry added that the UAE Armed Forces remain on a high state of readiness to deal with any potential threats.

The statement came hours after Iran’s military said it had launched dozens of explosive drones targeting US troops and helicopters stationed at Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE, describing the operation as retaliation for a US strike on Iran’s Larak Island.

US forces on Sunday struck two Iranian launchers on Larak Island in what marked the first reported US strikes on Iranian territory since late July. Washington said the operation targeted systems allegedly being prepared to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the strike killed and wounded several of its fighters and civilians and vowed to retaliate against what it called US aggression.