DUBAI (HRNW): Residents across Dubai and Abu Dhabi were shaken this evening as multiple loud explosions echoed through the skies, with many reporting the sight of fireballs and streaks of missiles overhead. Witnesses in Dubai described hearing at least three distinct “booms” that rattled windows in high-rise buildings, including areas near the Burj Khalifa. These reports surfaced shortly after Iran’s Revolutionary Guard launched a “crushing response” following joint U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iranian targets earlier in the day, titled “Operation Epic Fury.”
The UAE Ministry of Defence has confirmed that its air defense systems successfully intercepted a “new wave” of ballistic missiles and drones targeting the country. While the ministry noted that the interceptions were highly efficient, fragments and shrapnel fell in several residential areas across Abu Dhabi and Dubai. In a tragic development, authorities confirmed that one person of Asian nationality was killed in Abu Dhabi due to falling debris, marking the first confirmed fatality in the UAE during this escalation. Additionally, an “incident” involving a fire was reported at a building in the Palm Jumeirah area; emergency teams have since brought the fire under control, though four individuals sustained injuries.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, the UAE has officially closed its airspace, leading to the indefinite suspension of all flight operations at Dubai International (DXB) and Al Maktoum International (DWC). Major carriers, including Emirates and flydubai, have canceled all flights for the remainder of the day, and the U.S. Embassy has issued a “shelter-in-place” order for its personnel in both Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The UAE government has condemned the attacks as a “flagrant violation of national sovereignty” and stated it reserves the full right to respond to the aggression.
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