‘India stands with UAE’: PM Modi speaks to President Al Nahyan amid Iranian offensive

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday (01 Mar) spoke to UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and "strongly condemned" the attack on the Emirates. He also expressed gratitude to Nahyan for looking after the Indian community living in the Gulf nation and stated that New Delhi backs de-escalation, regional peace, security and stability.

“Spoke with the President of the UAE, my brother Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Strongly condemned the attacks on the UAE and condoled the loss of lives in these attacks. India stands in solidarity with the UAE in these difficult times,” he wrote on X.

Modi added, “Thanked him for taking care of the Indian community living in the UAE. We support de-escalation, regional peace, security and stability.”

Iranian missile and drone attacks on the Emirates over the past two days killed three people and injured 58, including an Indian national who is now out of danger, according to UAE authorities.

The UAE came under heavy attack from Iranian missiles and drones after the United States and Israel jointly launched military strikes in the early hours of Saturday.

The UAE Ministry of Defence said that Iran launched 137 ballistic missiles and 209 drones towards UAE territory, of which 132 missiles were intercepted mid-air, and five fell into the sea. Of the drones, 195 were intercepted, and 14 landed, causing limited damage from debris and shrapnel.

Also Read: Israel calls up 100,000 reserve soldiers as Netanyahu vows to intensify Iran operation following Khamenei’s assassination

Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei was assassinated on Saturday in a precision strike on a high-security compound in Tehran. Several other top leaders were also killed after the United States and Israel launched a coordinated decapitation military campaign specifically targeting the top leadership of the Islamic Republic. The strikes, codenamed Operation Epic Fury by the US and Operation Roaring Lion (or Shield of Judah) by Israel, also hit key sites in Iran, including government buildings, military headquarters in Tehran, and suspected nuclear facilities.

The strikes targeted government buildings in Tehran and suspected nuclear facilities, specifically aiming to decapitate the highest levels of Iranian leadership.

In retaliation, the Iranian military targeted US military bases and allies across the region, including major cities in the UAE. Fires were reported at multiple sites in Dubai, while airports in the Emirates and Kuwait were also hit.

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