ABU DHABI, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Six nationals of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh have been killed and 142 residents of multiple nationalities have suffered minor to moderate injuries in the UAE amid the recent escalating regional tensions, the UAE's Defense Ministry said Sunday.
Since the start of what the ministry described as Iranian attacks, the UAE's air defense systems have intercepted 298 ballistic missiles, 1,606 drones, and 15 cruise missiles, the ministry said in a statement.
It said the air defense systems intercepted four ballistic missiles and six drones launched toward the country on Sunday alone.
Earlier in the day, authorities in Dubai confirmed that loud explosions heard in the Marina and Al Sufouh areas were the result of air defense interceptions.
In Abu Dhabi, emergency teams contained a fire caused by a drone strike at the Ruwais Industrial Complex, with no injuries reported, according to the Abu Dhabi Media Office.
In the eastern emirate of Fujairah, a fire broke out at the Fujairah Oil Industries Zone following another interception, resulting in minor injuries to a Jordanian national.
The development came amid heightened regional tensions after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran starting from Feb. 28, to which Iran and Iran-aligned groups responded with attacks on Israeli and U.S. interests across the Middle East.
On Sunday, pan-Arab news outlet Al-Araby Al-Jadeed published parts of its interview with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, who said Tehran has information the United States and Israel are launching attacks from certain locations against Arab states in the West Asia region. ■
