Nigerian Injured As UAE Intercepts New Missiles From Iran

A Nigerian is among the many people affected after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) intercepted ballistic missiles launched from Iran.

The UAE has been dealing with retaliatory attacks from Iran, which accuses the Gulf nation of allowing the United States to carry out strikes from its military bases in the region.

In a statement released on Tuesday, UAE authorities said their air defence systems have tracked 262 ballistic missiles fired by Iran since the conflict began on February 28.

According to the UAE defence ministry, 241 of the missiles were successfully destroyed by air defence systems. Nineteen landed in the sea, while two fell within UAE territory.

“These attacks resulted in 6 deaths of Emirati, Pakistani, Nepalese, and Bangladeshi nationalities, and 122 cases of minor and moderate injuries of Emirati, Egyptian, Sudanese, Ethiopian, Filipino, Pakistani, Iranian, Indian, Bangladeshi, Sri Lankan, Azerbaijani, Yemeni, Ugandan, Eritrean, Lebanese, Afghan, Bahraini, Comorian, Turkish, Iraqi, Nepalese, Nigerian, Omani, Jordanian, and Palestinian nationalities,” the ministry said.

However, officials did not state how many people from each country were injured.

On Wednesday, the UAE’s defence minister said the country was still intercepting more missiles and drones launched from Iran.

Authorities also reaffirmed that the country remains prepared to respond to any security threats and protect its national interests.

Meanwhile, Nigerians currently stranded in Gulf countries have appealed to the Nigerian government to arrange evacuation flights to bring them home.

It is not yet known how many Nigerians are trapped in Iran or other Middle Eastern countries affected by the ongoing conflict.

Countries such as Qatar, the UAE, and Saudi Arabia are common travel and transit destinations for Nigerians.

The chairperson of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, said Nigeria plans to evacuate its citizens stranded in the Middle East once airspace in the region is reopened.

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