UAE Minister of State for International Cooperation Reem Al Hashimy told CNN that the country may take more decisive action if Iran continues launching missiles and drones at its territory.

“We are ready to defend ourselves. We hope it does not come to that, but … we will not sit idly by while continuing to be the target of such a wave of attacks,” Al Hashimy said in an interview with CNN.

Asked whether the UAE could move to direct combat operations, the senior official replied: “If it comes to that, it comes to that.”

“Now the ball is in Iran’s court — how they want to behave toward a neighbor that has traditionally been very fair and good-neighborly toward them,” she added.

The Ministry of Defense of the United Arab Emirates said on Saturday evening that Iran had launched at least 137 ballistic missiles and 209 drones at the UAE, most of which were intercepted, except for 14 drones that reached their targets.

Iran launched an unprecedented wave of missile and drone attacks targeting the UAE capital Abu Dhabi and the economic and tourism hub Dubai.

“We have one of the best air defense systems in the world, and we are doing everything to ensure our security,” Al Hashimy said. “We have very strong infrastructure … We will do everything to keep it that way for all our citizens and residents.”