The UAE’s Ministry of Defence has reported six deaths since the war began on February 28, including four civilians and two military personnel, who died in a helicopter crash blamed on a technical malfunction. Iran has sought to justify its attacks on Gulf countries by arguing that the presence of US military bases on their soil makes those states legitimate targets, after Israel and the US launched joint air strikes on Tehran on February 28. The UAE, which normalised relations with Israel in 2020, has faced the brunt ‌of the attacks. Iran has fired more than 1,800 missiles and drones at the UAE, more than any other country targeted by Tehran in the conflict, upending travel plans in the financial hub despite its air defence intercepting a vast majority of the projectiles. All Gulf Arab states have been affected, reporting more ⁠than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since the war began, and have condemned Iran. Nearly 1,500 civilians have already been reported killed in Iran.