Dubai: Explosions rocked Dubai’s Marina and Al Sufouh areas and operations at the UAE’s Fujairah oil terminal came to a halt on Sunday after Iranian missile and drone strikes, even as the conflict in the Middle East entered its 16th Day.
Several drones also struck Kuwait’s international airport, but no injuries were reported.
Authorities are battling the blaze at Fujairah for hours even as dark black smoke rose from burning oil tanks. A Jordanian national has been injured in the attack carried out by Iran on Saturday.
Dubai’s media office said that the latest sounds came after successful air defence interceptions of incoming missiles and drones, as reported by NDTV.
Sunday’s attacks were sparked by the US strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island that processes 90 per cent of the country’s oil. Trump said the attack had “obliterated every MILITARY target” while sparing energy facilities on the island in the Persian gulf.
Trump also said that he would strike the island a few more times “just for fun”.
The UAE has become the most targeted country in the region with Iran firing over 1,800 missiles and drones at it. This includes 1,600 drones, 294 ballistic missiles and 15 cruise missiles. The attacks having killed six people and wounded 141 others. Nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones were fired towards UAE on Saturday alone.
The police in UAE warned against “sharing rumours” and also banned “photographing or sharing security or critical sites”. The country has detained 10 foreigners who allegedly p
osted footage on social media of missile and drone attacks.
The Gulf’s energy sites from Kuwait to Oman, including the massive Ras Tanura refinery in Saudi Arabia, the Ras Laffan gas processing base in Qatar and the complex housing the UAE’s Ruwais refinery, were also methodically targeted by Iran, belying US claims of having destroyed the country’s military capabilities.
Iran, on Saturday, issued it first threat to the UAE since the start of the war on February 28, urging people to evacuate three major ports it called “legitimate targets” as the US used them for attacks.
Loud booms were also heard in Tel Aviv as Israel intercepted a barrage of missiles fired by Iran.
Similar reports came in from Bahrain’s capital of Manama, with the country saying it has intercepted 125 missiles and 203 drones since the start of Iran’s attacks. Six people have been arrested so far for posting videos of the aftermath of Iranian strikes.
Formula One races in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, slated for April, have been cancelled due to the ongoing crisis.
Jordan’s military has also said it intercepted 79 of 85 missiles and drones launched by Iran at the kingdom.
With Iran imposing a ban on the movement of US and Israeli ships through the Strait of Hormuz, American president Donald Trump urged countries such as China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain to send warships to help secure the waterway.
“The Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help — A LOT!” Trump said on social media.
China will certainly not pay any heed to Trump’s call as its ships are being allowed to cross the Strait by Iran. It now remains to be seen how the other countries react.
Meanwhile, maintaining its neutrality under international law, Switzerland refused two US requests to fly over its territory in operations linked to the current Middle East war.