Abu Dhabi: On Sunday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that its air force and air defense units successfully intercepted and destroyed a total of 137 ballistic missiles and 209 drones launched from Iran.

According to the Ministry of Defence, 132 out of the 137 missiles were neutralized, while five fell into the sea. Among the 209 drones detected, 195 were intercepted, and 14 managed to land within UAE territory, causing limited collateral damage.

The ministry reported that some debris landed in various locations, resulting in minor damage to civilian infrastructure. Authorities have implemented necessary measures to ensure public safety and secure the affected areas.

Abu Dhabi Airports confirmed that they were managing an incident related to the interception of a drone targeting Zayed International Airport, which resulted in shrapnel falling and led to one fatality of Asian nationality and seven injuries.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) activated contingency plans to mitigate the impact of the attack and maintain operations in the aviation sector.

Approximately 20,200 travelers were affected by flight rescheduling, with the GCAA providing temporary accommodations, meals, and rebooking assistance.

Earlier on Saturday, a fire erupted in a building on Dubai's iconic Palm Jumeirah, reportedly caused by debris from an Iranian missile.

Videos shared on social media depicted a thick plume of black smoke rising from the structure, accompanied by multiple loud explosions in the vicinity.

Dubai Civil Defence reported that four individuals sustained injuries due to an explosion in the Palm Jumeirah area.

In a related development, Iranian state media confirmed the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei due to US-Israeli strikes, prompting the Iranian government to declare a 40-day mourning period.

Reports from Iran's Fars News Agency indicated that four of Khamenei's relatives, including his daughter, grandchild, and son-in-law, were also killed in the attacks.