A drone attack destroyed a fuel tank near Dubai International Airport, causing a major fire and suspending flights across the Middle East.
A drone attack destroyed a fuel tank near Dubai International Airport early on Monday, causing a major fire and due to this ongoing conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran in the Middle East, flight operations were suspended as a precaution. Iran has fired more than 1,800 missiles and drones against the United Arab Emirates, more than any other country targeted by Tehran in the conflict.
At one of the busiest international airports in the world, which is close to Dubai's city center, civil defense crews were promptly sent to contain the fire. The communications office of the Gulf financial hub reported that the incident affected a fuel tank and that authorities had put out the fire that had started. No injuries have been recorded, according to the office.
Air India and Air India Express flights to and from Dubai have been cancelled for the day due to the impact on airport operations in Dubai. The UAE Ministry of Defense stated that the country's air defenses are now reacting to Iranian drone and missile threats. According to MOD, the sounds are the result of drones and missiles being intercepted by Air Defense Systems.
The attack occurs one day after Iran demanded the evacuation of three important ports in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), which is the first time Tehran has threatened the non-US assets of a neighboring nation. Iran said that the US had launched recent attacks on Kharg Island, which is home to the primary facility processing Iran's oil exports, utilizing ports, docks, and hideouts in the UAE.
Since the start of the US-Israeli attack on Iran on February 28, which killed Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and severely damaged its administrative and strategic infrastructure, Tehran has been attacking US sites as well as civilian infrastructure, including landmarks, airports, ports, and oil installations across Middle East.
