Dubai’s iconic sail-shaped Burj Al Arab was reportedly
struck by a suspected suicide drone on Saturday evening, leaving multiple
people injured as regional tensions intensified. Thick black smoke billowed
from the luxury landmark, with footage shared online showing flames at its base
as emergency crews rushed to the scene. Authorities later confirmed the fire
had been brought under control.
The incident came hours after another hotel, Fairmont
The Palm, in the Palm Jumeirah district, was engulfed in flames. Four people
were injured in that attack, which officials said may have involved an Iranian
Shahed drone or falling missile debris. A Dubai government spokesperson
confirmed the injuries and said emergency services had quickly brought the fire
under control.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud blast before smoke
spread across the skyline, with dramatic video appearing to show a drone diving
toward the Burj Al Arab, though the exact weapon has not been officially
confirmed.
The United Arab Emirates said it intercepted a wave of
Iranian drones and missiles targeting the country, following retaliatory
strikes by Tehran after joint US-Israeli operations earlier in the day.
Explosions were also reported at US military bases across Bahrain, Kuwait,
Qatar, and the UAE, with smoke seen near the headquarters of the United States
Navy Fifth Fleet in Bahrain. One person was reportedly killed in Abu Dhabi
after Emirati forces intercepted incoming missiles.
British tourist Will Bailey described the scene in
Dubai as “what seems like World War Three,” posting on social media that
missiles had landed in Abu Dhabi, about an hour from the city.
In Israel, sirens sounded as Iranian missiles were
intercepted over major cities. Benjamin Netanyahu described Iran as an
“existential threat,” saying that Israel and the United States had embarked on
a mission to eliminate the danger posed by Tehran’s leadership. US President
Donald Trump condemned Iran’s leadership, vowing to “raze” the country’s
missile industry and warning officials to “lay down your arms” or “face certain
death.”
Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard confirmed
launching a “first wave” of drones and missiles, warning that all US and
Israeli interests in the region were legitimate targets. Hardline Iranian
parliamentarian Alaeddin Boroujerdi emphasized there would be no “red lines” in
Tehran’s response, describing it as “regret-inducing” and asserting that Iran
would use all its capabilities against the Zionist regime.
Airspace across parts of the Gulf has been closed,
with residents and tourists in Dubai urged to remain indoors as authorities
manage the volatile situation. The attacks mark a dramatic escalation in the
ongoing US-Israel-Iran conflict, raising fears of a wider regional
confrontation.
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