UAE Ministry of Defense: UAE Air Defense Systems Intercepted 23 Missiles and 56 Drones in One Day

¬· Known Information About the Missiles Used in Iran’s Attack on the US Aircraft Carrier

¬· Iranian Sources: If the US Launches Ground Operations, Iran Will Decide How It Ends

¬· Iran Foreign Ministry Maintains Contact with Arab States on Security Issues

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The UAE Ministry of Defense stated that the UAE's air defense systems intercepted 23 ballistic missiles and 56 drones within a 24-hour period.

The UAE Ministry of Defense wrote on social media platform X: "The UAE air defense systems intercepted 23 ballistic missiles and 56 drones launched from Iran on April 4."

Data indicates that since the conflict began, UAE air defense systems have intercepted 498 ballistic missiles, 23 cruise missiles, and 2,141 drones.

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The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) of Iran said late Thursday that it fired four Ghadr (also known as Qadr) missiles at the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier.

The Ghadr missile is an Iranian medium-range ballistic missile, with the following key characteristics:

Range: 1,650–2,000 kilometers.

Warhead weight: 650–1,000 kilograms (capable of carrying high-explosive or cluster warheads, increasing interception difficulty).

Launch weight: 15–19 tons.

Features a unique "tricone" nose cone ("resembling a baby bottle"), enhancing atmospheric re-entry speed and accuracy (some variants have a circular error probable of 30–50 meters); employs inertial guidance and satellite navigation.

First stage uses liquid fuel, second stage uses solid fuel; launch preparation time is approximately 30 minutes.

Can be launched from underground silos or mobile launchers.

Developed in the mid-2000s based on the earlier liquid-fueled Shahab-3 missile.

Has been widely used in a series of retaliatory strikes named "True Promise" conducted by Iran in 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Using such missiles to target an aircraft carrier may indicate they have undergone modernization upgrades—possibly including terminal guidance systems, additional radar or infrared seekers, and specialized anti-ship warheads capable of penetrating ship hulls and detonating below the waterline.

The Ghadr missile is not the most advanced or powerful in Iran’s arsenal, but it offers mass-production advantages and remains highly effective: it can be used for direct attacks or dispersed in swarming tactics to distract enemy air defenses, creating opportunities for faster and more powerful missiles to breach defenses.

The US Central Command (CENTCOM) has not yet commented on the reported attack on the USS Abraham Lincoln. The command released a set of undated photos Friday, claiming the carrier "continues conducting round-the-clock flight operations."

In contrast, the USS Gerald R. Ford, operating alongside, lost combat capability in mid-March due to a mysterious "laundry room fire," subsequently heading to Crete for repairs. Some observers speculate this vessel may also have been targeted by Iranian missile attacks.

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An Iranian diplomatic source told reporters that if the United States launches ground military operations into Iran, Iran will determine how the situation ends.

Expressing confidence that Iran’s armed forces would prevail should the U.S. initiate ground operations, he stated: "If Americans start ground operations, then we will decide how it ends."

Previously, President Donald Trump claimed the U.S. would carry out strong strikes against Iran within the next two to three weeks. On Tuesday, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth stated that the U.S. does not rule out any option—including ground operations—in continuing its campaign against Iran.

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A senior Iranian diplomatic source told reporters that the Iranian Foreign Ministry continues to maintain ongoing contact with Arab states on regional security issues.

The source said: "Security can only be a regional concept. Iran has long called on Arab states to jointly commit to ensuring regional security. The Iranian Foreign Ministry maintains continuous contact with Arab countries."

Source: sputniknews

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1861545176449096/

Disclaimer: This article represents the personal views of the author