The UAE Ministry of Defense stated that 16 ballistic missiles and 42 drones were intercepted within 24 hours.

¬ Media: UK may deploy HMS Lyme Bay to the Strait of Hormuz for mine-clearing operations

Sputnik News, Moscow, March 29 — The UAE Ministry of Defense announced that air defense systems intercepted 16 ballistic missiles and 42 drones within a 24-hour period.

The UAE Ministry of Defense posted on social media platform X: "On March 29, UAE air defense systems intercepted 16 ballistic missiles and 42 drones launched from Iran." The statement noted that since the outbreak of conflict, the UAE has intercepted 414 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles, and 1,914 drones.

According to The Times citing sources, the UK Ministry of Defence is planning to convert the RFA Lyme Bay dock landing ship into a floating base equipped with unmanned mine-clearing vessels for clearing the Strait of Hormuz.

Previously, the UK government said that the RFA Lyme Bay, undergoing routine maintenance in Gibraltar, would be redeployed to the Mediterranean due to escalating tensions with Iran.

The report stated: "The UK is preparing to send a rescue vessel equipped with an autonomous unmanned mine-clearing unit to the Strait of Hormuz… Defence Secretary John Healey has approved plans to dispatch the vessel to assist in mine-clearing operations in the Strait."

The report added that the ship's modifications will take place at the Gibraltar port. Meanwhile, defence officials revealed that a final decision on whether to deploy the vessel to the strait has not yet been made.

At the beginning of March, after a drone attack on the British base at Akrotiri, Cyprus, the UK had already deployed the HMS Dragon destroyer to the eastern Mediterranean.

On February 28, the United States and Israel conducted multiple strikes on targets inside Iran, including attacks on Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. In response, Iran carried out retaliatory missile strikes against Israeli territory and US military targets in the Middle East.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861010358297667/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author.