Daijiworld Media Network - Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi, Aug 31: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) said on Monday that its air force responded to a drone approaching from Iran over the country’s territorial waters.
The UAE Ministry of Defence said the Armed Forces remained on high alert to deal with any potential threats, while air defence systems continued to monitor and safeguard the country’s airspace around the clock, Xinhua News Agency reported.
Earlier, the Iranian Army claimed it had attacked Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE with dozens of drones, targeting US helicopters and personnel stationed there, according to Iranian state television.
In a statement, the Iranian Army said, “From early Monday morning, in response to the recent aggression by the aggressor enemy and in retaliation for the martyrdom of the brave personnel of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps and innocent Iranian compatriots on Larak Island, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Army targeted the locations of the helicopters and forces of the child-killing US military at the Al Minhad base in the UAE by launching dozens of attack drones.”
The Iranian Army described Al Minhad as an important centre used for supporting and transporting foreign forces, Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency reported.
It also expressed readiness to ensure Iran’s security until what it called the enemy threat was removed from the region, and warned that it would “avenge the blood of all the martyrs of the imposed war from the American terrorist forces”.
The Iranian Army’s statement came after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it had carried out retaliatory strikes against US military positions in the region.
Meanwhile, the UAE Ministry of Defence said the UAE Air Force responded to an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) detected over the country’s territorial waters and approaching from Iran.
The ministry reiterated that the UAE Armed Forces remained ready to deal with any potential threats, while the country’s air defence systems continued round-the-clock surveillance and protection of its airspace.