US Attacks Iran – Tensions between the US and Iran escalated as Israel launched a joint military attack on the Islamic Republic on Saturday. Hours later, a loud bang was heard in Dubai, while explosions were also reported in Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, with the aftermath of “Operation Epic Fury” hitting Iran.
In the United Arab Emirates, state media confirmed that one person had been killed in Abu Dhabi, although no further information was provided, Reuters reported.
Gray smoke in Bahrain
Bahrain confirmed the attack took place on its borders and said a service center linked to the US Fifth Fleet was hit. Footage taken by a Reuters witness showed gray smoke billowing near the island nation’s coast as sirens sounded.
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According to a Reuters report, a witness said he heard five rapid explosions that shook the windows of a house near Abu Dhabi’s Corniche. Others in the Al Dhafra and Al Bateen areas also described loud explosions. Fighter jets were seen circling over Yas Island in Abu Dhabi on Saturday afternoon.
In Qatar, the military announced that it had intercepted Iranian missiles before they could enter Qatari airspace, citing “joint coordination”. Residents of the capital, Doha, reported hearing multiple explosions in quick succession, Reuters reported.
Saudi Arabia condemned Iranian strikes aimed at neighboring countries in a statement issued by its state news agency, although it did not say the kingdom itself was targeted, AFP reported.
Jordan, meanwhile, said it had intercepted and shot down two ballistic missiles aimed at its territory, AFP reported.
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After a warning from the US Embassy in Doha, many residents initially went about their daily routines. People shopped at supermarkets, visited the beach and tourists rode a yellow double-decker bus through the city’s West Bay district, Reuters reported.
However, after the government sent out a shelter-in-place alert to cellphones, the streets became noticeably quieter, with fewer people out and traffic lighter.
2 killed in attack on Iraqi base
At least two people were killed in an airstrike on an Iraqi military base hosting a pro-Iranian faction on Saturday, AFP reported, citing Iraqi officials.
The United States and Israel have launched strikes against Iran, with US President Donald Trump vowing to “destroy” the country’s navy and missile facilities.
The targeted base, Jurf al-Sakher, also known as Jurf al-Nasr, is located in southern Iraq and is controlled by the Hashed al-Shaabi, or Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a former paramilitary organization that has since been merged with Iraq’s official armed forces, AFP reported.
The US-designated Kataeb Hezbollah militant group controls several brigades in Iraq’s Hashed al-Shaabi. It is also aligned with Iran’s so-called “axis of resistance” and is known to sometimes operate independently.
On Thursday, the group warned that the United States would face “enormous losses” if it launched a war in the region and urged its fighters to prepare for what it described as a potentially prolonged war of attrition, AFP reported.
Affected flights
Emirates, one of the world’s largest long-haul carriers, said a number of its flights were grounded due to the closure of airspace in the United Arab Emirates, the AP reported.
The airline, which operates from Dubai International Airport – the world’s busiest hub for international passengers, said it was coordinating with local authorities and adjusting flight schedules. Passengers were advised to check their flight status online before traveling to the airport, the AP reported
Emirates carried 53.7 million passengers in the last financial year. A significant proportion of these passengers, as well as customers of regional competitors Qatar Airways and Etihad Airways, use the Gulf as a transit point for onward journeys around the world.
(With input from agencies)
