Tensions in the Middle East rose on Saturday after the United States and Israel launched pre-emptive strikes targeting Iran’s military and naval forces, prompting Tehran to retaliate and attack US bases in the region, with explosions reported in several cities, including Dubai, Abu Dhabi and others.
The development comes days after US President Donald Trump warned Iran of “bad things” and asked it to agree to a deal on its nuclear program. Despite the negotiations, renewed military confrontation has plunged the region into one of its worst crises.
Here is a list of locations where explosions were heard:
The Middle East’s commercial hub, Dubai, reported a series of explosions in areas including Downtown Dubai on Saturday, with residents reporting hearing “a bang and then a bang”. Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest tower, was evacuated minutes after explosions were heard just two kilometers away. The Palm Jumeirah, Dubai’s man-made island, reported a fire which authorities said was later brought under control. The Sheikh Zayed Road area near Fairmont Dubai, Dubai Marina and the Jebel Ali area were other places that reported explosions, Hindustan Times reported.
In Bahrain, the country’s ambassador to the US confirmed attacks on “locations in the kingdom”. The attack was reportedly carried out by Iran against the US Fifth Fleet in retaliation for the strike in Tehran, The Washington Post reported, confirming videos that showed the explosions.
The UAE said it intercepted Iranian missiles in Abu Dhabi on Saturday, adding that it reserved the right to respond to the attacks. Residents of Abu Dhabi reported loud explosions in the capital, which is home to a US military base. According to a Hindustan Times report, several Abu Dhabi residents also claimed to have received a telephone alert advising them to take shelter in the nearest building they believed to be safe.
Citing Syrian state media, Al-Jazeera reported a rocket explosion that killed four people and injured several others in the Suwayda industrial area; however, the source of the missile has not been confirmed.
In Doha, an Al Jazeera correspondent said at least a dozen explosions were heard in the past few hours, most of which sounded like Patriot air defense missiles intercepting Iranian missiles.
According to the AFP news agency, several loud explosions were also reported in the Saudi capital of Riyadh shortly after US air bases in Bahrain and Qatar were attacked.
The IDF says 500 targets were hit in Iran
According to a report in The Jerusalem Post, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said that more than 200 Israeli Air Force planes hit 500 targets in Iran on Saturday night (local time), calling it the largest airstrike ever carried out by Israeli forces. The report added that the first wave hit what appeared to be dozens of radar installations and air defense systems, mainly in areas of Iran closer to Israel and around Tehran.
Tehran’s state news agency IRNA said several explosions were reported as early as 9:30 a.m. (local time) across Iran. The agency later added that explosions were also heard in Qom, Lorestan, Kermanshah, Karaj and Tabriz.
