Early on Sunday, July 12, the UAE Ministry of Defence activated its air defense systems to intercept incoming missile and drone threats, marking the country's first genuine national security alert since May 4. Officials urged residents to stay calm following reports of loud noises across the nation and explicitly warned the public to avoid touching or photographing any falling debris. Anyone who spots such fragments is instructed to keep their distance and report the location immediately by dialing 999.

This escalation follows a tense standoff in the Strait of Hormuz, where the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck a Cyprus-flagged container ship, the M/V GFS Galaxy, causing significant damage and leaving one crew member missing. In response, the US military launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian targets, effectively ending a fragile ceasefire that had been in place since February. As regional air defenses in Qatar and Bahrain were also triggered during the incident, the situation remains volatile following Iran’s declaration that it has closed the vital maritime passage.