Explosions and smoke were reported over Dubai’s famous man-made Palm Island on Saturday (local time) as Iran carried out retaliatory strikes in the Middle East, AFP reported. The development came in response to a joint operation by the United States and Israel targeting Tehran’s military and naval forces.
Citing a witness, the report said he saw thick black smoke coming from the Palma hotel and heard ambulances rushing to the scene. Dubai residents also reported hearing several loud bangs after the explosion.
A Reuters report said at least four people were injured and city emergency teams responded to an “incident” at a building in the Palm Jumeirah area.
Here’s how Dubai became Iran’s target
Hours after the US and Israel attacked Iran, plunging the Middle East into renewed military confrontation, Tehran retaliated by targeting at least four US bases in Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which host air bases with US assets.
Several videos shared online showed smoke rising over Dubai after Iranian ballistic missiles hit the Persian Gulf region; However, Mint could not independently verify the videos circulating on X.
In Dubai, the commercial center of the Gulf region and home to the world’s tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, residents looked up to see missiles streaking across the sky. Several reports also claimed that the Burj Khalifa skyscraper was evacuated minutes after the strike was carried out just two kilometers away, with authorities putting emergency protocols in place, The Sunday Guardian reported.
She added that police have closed surrounding streets and asked residents to remain calm during the investigation.
Dubai International Airport suspends operations
Airlines suspended flights through the Middle East on Saturday, Reuters reported. This included the suspension of flights at Dubai International Airport, the world’s busiest international travel hub. In a statement, Dubai International Airport said: “Dubai Airports confirms that all flight operations at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and Dubai World Central – Al Maktoum International (DWC) are suspended until further notice. Passengers are advised not to travel to the airport at this time and to contact their respective airlines directly for the latest updates regarding their flights.”
The US and Israel attacked Iran
The US and Israel struck Iran’s military and naval forces days after US President Donald Trump warned Tehran of “bad things” if it does not agree to a deal in the coming days. Israel’s pre-emptive strikes came despite ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran over Tehran’s nuclear program, which has been a sticking point between the two countries. Tensions have now further escalated and the Middle East is witnessing a crisis.
Following Iran’s retaliation, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman called United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to discuss attacks on countries in the region, the state-run UAE News Agency reported.
