Pakistan national killed in Iranian missile strikes on UAE: FO

A Pakistan national was killed in Iranian missile strikes on the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday, the Foreign Office (FO) confirmed in a statement.

The development came after Israel and US carried out attacks on Iran, and Tehran launched retaliatory strikes on regional bases.

“Pakistan regrets the breakdown of talks and outbreak of hostilities in the Middle East. Pakistan condemns the unwarranted attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran. These attacks come at a time when diplomatic efforts were underway to reach a peaceful and negotiated solution. Such a course of action will undermine the peace and stability of the entire region, with far reaching consequences.

“Pakistan also strongly condemns the attacks by Iran against the brotherly countries of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the UAE, and stands in solidarity with all these brotherly countries and underscores the need to exercise maximum restraint. The unprovoked attacks constitute blatant violations of the sovereignty of the brotherly Gulf states.

“Pakistan also condemns the unfortunate death of a Pakistani national in the UAE during this dastardly attack. We urge all sides to refrain from any further actions that may undermine the security and territorial integrity of other regional countries.

“Pakistan urges the need for upholding the international law and principles of the UN Charter. Pakistan emphasises upon all sides to resume diplomacy and find a peaceful and negotiated solution to the crisis,” the FO statement read.

Earlier, the UAE’s Ministry of Defence said a civilian was killed in Iranian strikes that hit Abu Dhabi on Saturday.

READ MORE: Israel and US launch attacks on Iran, deepening regional crisis

The defence ministry reported, “the fall of some missile debris in a residential area” of Abu Dhabi that “resulted in one civilian death of an Asian nationality”.

Several Gulf Arab states said they were targeted by Iranian missiles on Saturday after Tehran pledged to retaliate against strikes by the United States and Israel.

Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan, all of which have a US military presence, said they had intercepted the Iranian missiles.

“All occupied territories and the criminal US bases in the region have been struck by the powerful blows of Iranian missiles. This operation will continue relentlessly until the enemy is decisively defeated,” Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said.

Bahrain confirmed an attack inside its territory and said a service center of the US Fifth Fleet had been struck. Video from a Reuters witness showed a plume of grey smoke rising near the small island nation’s coast as sirens wailed.

Loud booms were heard across Abu Dhabi, according to five witnesses, including two Reuters correspondents. Some residents received a phone alert telling them to shelter in the closest secure building and stay away from windows because of missile threats.