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Black smoke was seen rising over Dubai after debris from what officials described as an intercepted Iranian missile reportedly struck a hotel on the Palm Jumeirah. Footage shared online showed flames and thick smoke engulfing parts of the Fairmont The Palm, a luxury hotel on the man-made island, as witnesses reported hearing a loud blast in the tourist district.
The incident came amid a wider escalation across the Middle East after Iran launched retaliatory strikes following a major US-Israeli operation earlier in the day. Tehran had vowed revenge, warning it had “no red lines” in responding to what it described as aggression.
Authorities believe the damage in Dubai was caused by falling debris from a missile intercepted over the United Arab Emirates as Iran fired a barrage targeting US bases and Israel.
Explosions were also reported at a US naval base in Bahrain, where smoke was seen rising near the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet. Iranian missiles were reportedly intercepted over several Gulf states, including the UAE and Qatar, as regional air defence systems were activated.
In the UAE, state media said one person was killed following the interception of Iranian missiles. Airspace was temporarily closed in Abu Dhabi, and witnesses described hearing loud bangs across parts of the capital.
Tourists in Dubai were seen taking cover as projectiles were intercepted overhead. An 11-second video circulating on social media appeared to show expanding clouds in the sky above the city, believed to be from air defence activity.
Elsewhere, rockets were reported near Erbil Airport in Iraq, where US forces are stationed. Jordan’s military said it had downed two ballistic missiles, while Qatar reportedly intercepted additional projectiles. Sirens were also heard in Kuwait.
The escalation follows coordinated US and Israeli strikes on Iranian targets earlier in the day, in an operation described by Washington as targeting Iran’s missile infrastructure. Former US President Donald Trump condemned Iran’s leadership and pledged to “raze” the country’s missile industry.
In Israel, blasts were reported in the north after Israeli strikes hit sites near Tehran, reportedly including locations close to the office of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had launched a “first wave” of drones and missiles targeting Israel in response.
With exchanges of fire spreading across multiple countries, the latest developments have heightened fears of a broader regional conflict as governments in the Gulf move to secure airspace and protect civilian areas.
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