Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Dubai authorities said they brought under control a fire caused by a drone incident near Dubai International Airport on Monday, forcing a temporary suspension of flights. No injuries were reported.
Incident near Dubai International Airport
The Dubai media office said on X that a drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport affected one of the fuel tanks. Police said traffic was temporarily halted on road and tunnel links with the airport, and Emirates airline suspended flights with Dubai. Some flights were diverted to Al Maktoum International Airport, the Dubai media office said.
Authorities did not say when they expected flights to resume.
Regional aviation disruption amid conflict
The U.S.-Israel war against Iran has disrupted global aviation, with flights cancelled, rescheduled and rerouted as most Middle East airspace remains shut over fears of missile and drone attacks. The crisis has also pushed fuel prices higher.
Monday’s incident was the third at Dubai airport since Iran began attacks on Gulf nations on February 28, with Tehran saying the strikes aim at the U.S. presence in the region.
Broader pattern of attacks in Gulf states
The United Arab Emirates and Gulf countries, as well as Iraq, Jordan and Turkey, host U.S. military facilities, while Iran has used missiles and drones to target civilian facilities including airports, hotels and ports.
Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since February 28, with targets including U.S. diplomatic missions and military bases, as well as key Gulf oil infrastructure, homes and offices.
The United Arab Emirates, which normalised relations with Iran’s arch-foe Israel in 2020, has faced the brunt of the attacks, while all Gulf Arab states have been affected and have condemned Iran.
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