UAE reports fatality after drone interception near Abu Dhabi airport

Authorities in Abu Dhabi said they dealt with an incident involving the interception of a drone that targeted Zayed International Airport, resulting in falling debris that killed one person and injured seven others.

According to the state news agency WAM, the debris caused the death of an Asian national and left seven people injured. No further details were provided about the condition of those hurt.

Abu Dhabi Airports urged the public not to circulate rumors or inaccurate information and said updates would be announced through official sources as they become available.

In neighboring Dubai, authorities said debris from an aerial interception caused a fire at one of the berths at Jebel Ali Port, one of the region’s major shipping hubs.

The Dubai Media Office said Civil Defense teams responded immediately and were continuing efforts to fully extinguish the fire. No injuries were reported.

Authorities also urged the public not to circulate an old video of a fire at Jebel Ali Port from July 7, 2021, warning that it could spread misleading information. Further information would be provided as it becomes available, the office said.

Separately, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the United Arab Emirates’ deputy prime minister and minister of foreign affairs, held phone calls with several foreign ministers to discuss what officials described as the latest regional developments following Iran’s missile attacks targeting the UAE and other countries in the region.

According to WAM, Sheikh Abdullah spoke with senior officials from Palestine, Qatar, Jordan, Italy, Russia, Kuwait, Bahrain, India, Egypt, Syria, the United Kingdom, Spain, Turkey, Panama and Germany.

The discussions addressed what were described as the grave consequences of the ongoing regional escalation, the expanding scope of the conflict, and alleged Iranian violations that risk undermining regional and international security and threatening global economic and energy stability.

WAM said Sheikh Abdullah and the ministers strongly condemned the Iranian attacks on the UAE and other countries and affirmed what they described as the full and legitimate right of targeted states to respond in a manner that safeguards their sovereignty, security and territorial integrity in accordance with international law.

The ministers also underscored the importance of exercising restraint and prioritizing serious dialogue to resolve the crisis in a way that ensures security and stability in the region.