[Editor’s Note: Follow the Khaleej Times live blog for the latest regional developments with the US-Israel-Iran ceasefire now in effect.]
After 53 days, on June 26, UAE residents heard the shrill of the emergency alert on their phones. Seconds later, a safety alert followed, and then a clarification.
Residents were asked to “disregard the previous warning” they received, as the Ministry of Interior clarified the false alarm. The National Emergency, Crisis and Disaster Management Authority later confirmed that a sudden technical malfunction caused the alerts to go out.
The authority and relevant entities issued an apology for the “unintentional technical malfunction” and urged members of the public not circulate information that is not issued by official channels.
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Hostilities in the region have been at a low since June 17, after US and Iran signed a Memorandum of Understanding, what is colloquially known as a peace deal.
While the UAE engaged 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles, and 2,263 UAV’s — battling nearly 3,000 attempts of attacks, bilateral relations have been looking up over the last month.
UAE’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on Friday, received a phone call from Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi. Both leaders discussed the latest regional developments days after US Vice President Marco Rubio visited the UAE.
Rubio renewed Washington’s commitment to the country’s security on the first leg of a tour of the Gulf, especially during his meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
“They discussed President Trump’s memorandum of understanding with Iran, efforts to secure full and safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz, and the importance of peace and stability in the region,” said his spokesperson Tommy Pigott, adding that Rubio “reaffirmed the US commitment to the security of the Emirates”.
Rubio’s three-day tour of the Gulf is the first high-level diplomatic mission since the US-Iran framework agreement last week to end the conflict, which started on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Source: Khaleej Times