UAE Official Reports 2,800 Iranian Strikes as Tehran Targets Over 90% Civilian Infrastructure

Minister Reem Al Hashimy reports 2,800+ Iranian missiles and drones targeted the UAE, with 90% hitting civilian sites. Regional tensions rise as peace talks loom.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 20, 2026, 10:43 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from ABC News and the Foundation for Defense of Democracies

Systematic Targeting of the Emirati Economic Model

The United Arab Emirates has faced an unprecedented barrage of aerial assaults since the regional conflict began in late February. Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy detailed the scale of the offensive, stating that over 2,800 drones and missiles have crossed into Emirati territory in just 40 days. According to Al Hashimy, the Iranian strategy has been overwhelmingly focused on non-military objectives, with more than 90 percent of incoming fire directed at civilian infrastructure. She argued that these actions are a deliberate attempt to undermine the UAE's regional standing as a hub of prosperity and global commerce.

A Contrast in National Wealth Allocation

In a sharp rebuke of Tehran’s regional posture, Al Hashimy drew a distinction between the developmental philosophies of the two nations. She asserted that while the UAE utilized its petroleum wealth to build an "international, global, and responsible" economic powerhouse, Iran diverted its resources toward "nefarious" nuclear programs, missile technology, and proxy networks. The Minister framed the current conflict as an assault on the very model of a modern, tolerant Gulf state, though she emphasized that the Iranian leadership underestimated the Emirati resolve to defend its national achievements.

The Regional Shift Toward Maximum Pressure

While the UAE was initially hesitant regarding the outbreak of a multi-front war between the U.S.-Israeli alliance and Iran, its diplomatic tone has hardened as civilian casualties and infrastructure damage have mounted. Al Hashimy expressed "maximum pressure" is now the necessary path forward to curb the influence of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). She clarified that while the UAE does not wish to see the Iranian people suffer, the IRGC’s current posture has transformed it into a threat not just to the West, but to the immediate stability of the entire Gulf neighborhood.