ALBAWABA- The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence announced on Monday that two members of the country’s armed forces were killed when a military helicopter crashed during a routine national duty mission.
According to the ministry, the crash was caused by a technical malfunction. Authorities said the incident was not related to combat operations and extended condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers. No further details were released regarding the exact location of the crash.
The accident comes as tensions across the Gulf intensify amid the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. The confrontation entered its tenth day after coordinated U.S. and Israeli strikes on February 28 targeted Iranian leadership figures, nuclear facilities, and missile infrastructure.
Tehran has responded with waves of ballistic missiles and drones aimed at Israel and U.S.-aligned Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Bahrain, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to intensify military pressure on Tehran, while Iran’s newly elevated Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has vowed continued resistance. The latest exchanges have included Israeli strikes on Iranian oil facilities, followed by Iranian attempts to target Gulf energy infrastructure.
Security officials said Iran launched 15 ballistic missiles and 18 drones toward the UAE on Monday. Most were intercepted, though debris caused minor injuries in Abu Dhabi. Since the conflict escalated on February 28, Iran has reportedly fired more than 200 missiles and nearly 1,000 drones toward the UAE, primarily targeting bases hosting U.S. forces and key energy installations.
Debris from an intercepted projectile also struck the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, though authorities reported no significant damage to refinery operations.
