At least one person has died and 11 others were injured at airports in Dubai and Abu Dhabi following a series of attacks by Iran across the Middle East in retaliation to ongoing U.S.-Israel strikes.
Abu Dhabi authorities confirmed that a drone targeting Zayed International Airport (AUH) was intercepted, causing falling debris, which killed one person and injured seven. In Dubai, the world’s busiest airport by passenger traffic (DXB) was damaged in an incident that injured four staff members, according to local authorities.
The attacks have caused massive disruption to global air travel, grounding thousands of flights to and from the Gulf region, marking one of the most significant disruptions since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Retaliatory Strikes Across the Gulf
Iran has employed ballistic missiles and drones to target U.S. allies and regional assets, following the killing of its Supreme Leader during a U.S.-Israel air offensive on Saturday morning.
- Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, all hosting U.S. military bases, reported intercepting missiles, though falling debris still caused damage.
- In Dubai, debris from an interception caused a fire at the Jebel Ali deep-sea port, one of the world’s busiest.
- The Fairmont The Palm hotel on the Palm Jumeirah was struck by a large explosion, while debris also caused a minor fire on the outer facade of the Burj Al Arab hotel.
Additional Incidents
- In Bahrain, a drone strike damaged the airport, with unconfirmed reports of ongoing attacks on Sunday morning.
- Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) reported striking the headquarters of the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain, producing large plumes of black smoke.
- Oman’s Duqm commercial port was also targeted by two drones, injuring one worker, according to state news reports.
The escalating conflict has heightened fears of a wider regional confrontation and continues to severely impact aviation, commercial ports, and civilian infrastructure across the Gulf.
