Geneva, March 3 (QNA) – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) affirmed Tuesday its full and legitimate right to respond to Iranian attacks in accordance with international law, in order to protect its sovereignty, security, and territorial integrity.

Shahad Matar, Deputy Permanent Representative of the UAE to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva, highlighted in her country’s statement before the UN Human Rights Council that the UAE has been subjected to Iranian attacks using ballistic missiles and drones targeting civilians and civilian infrastructure within the country since February 28.

She noted that three civilians were killed and 58 others were injured in these Iranian attacks.

She stressed that this blatant aggression constitutes a flagrant violation of the state’s sovereignty and a complete disregard for the principles of international law and the UN Charter.

She reiterated the UAE’s categorical rejection of the use of its territories as a platform for settling scores or expanding conflicts.

She called for restraint and a return to dialogue and diplomatic solutions as the best way to preserve the region’s security, expressing her country’s strongest condemnation of the attacks targeting the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and other Arab states in the region, and affirming her country’s full solidarity with them.

The statement noted that the UAE is home to more than 200 nationalities, many of whom are represented on the Human Rights Council, explaining that this attack was not only directed against the UAE, but against international principles, and must be dealt with accordingly. (QNA)