Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. At least one person was killed in Abu Dhabi on Saturday and explosions were heard in Dubai after Iranian missiles struck the United Arab Emirates in retaliation for joint US and Israeli attacks on Iran. The UAE said it reserves the right to respond.
Fatality reported after air defences intercept missiles
UAE air defences intercepted Iranian missiles targeting sites in Abu Dhabi, but debris from an intercepted missile fell on a residential area, killing a person of Asian nationality, the UAE defence ministry said.
Reports of Burj Khalifa evacuation disputed
Media reports claimed people were being evacuated from the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, though eyewitnesses later told RIA Novosti the evacuation reports were not true.
UAE response and Iranian claims of regional targets
The UAE described the attack as “a dangerous escalation and a cowardly act” and said it reserves its full right to respond.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it had targeted Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al-Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, and the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain. Explosions were heard in Dubai, with Euronews journalists in the city reporting multiple blasts.
Qatar and Bahrain report interceptions and alerts
Qatar said it intercepted two Iranian missiles over the country. Bahrain activated air-raid sirens to warn of Iranian attacks, with explosions heard and smoke seen in the capital Manama.
US and Israeli strikes on Iran and statements by leaders
The strikes came after the US and Israel launched attacks on Iran on Saturday, with the first strikes appearing to target Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s home and office in downtown Tehran. It was not immediately clear whether the 86-year-old Khamenei was present at the time, though Iranian state media later reported President Masoud Pezeshkian was “in full health”.
President Donald Trump confirmed in a video posted on social media that the US had begun “major combat operations” in Iran, describing the campaign as “massive and ongoing”.
“Our objective is to defend the American people by eliminating imminent threats from the Iranian regime,” Trump said. He urged Iranians to overthrow the Islamic Republic regime and warned “we may have casualties—that often happens in war”.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the joint attack aimed to “remove an existential threat posed” by Iran. “Our joint operation will create the conditions for the brave Iranian people to take their fate into their own hands,” he said.
What developments have officials in the UAE and neighbouring Gulf states reported since the missile strikes?
