Debris from an intercepted drone hit a complex in Abu Dhabi where the Israeli embassy is located along with many foreign missions, leaving a woman and her child injured, the emirate’s state media office said.
Damage was caused to the Etihad Towers complex when debris from the intercepted drone hit it. Residents of Abu Dhabi heard loud explosions as the event occurred.
This comes after a series of military strikes carried out by the United States and Israel on Iran on Saturday.
In retaliation for this attack, Iran has said it would target US bases in the region. The actions of Iran have also caused damage to civilian infrastructure in Gulf cities.
On Sunday, retaliatory strikes were carried out across Gulf states. Loud blasts were heard in Dubai and Qatar’s capital city, Doha.
For the first time in the series of attacks, Oman was targeted.
In Dubai, two people were injured after drones were intercepted and shrapnel was scattered across properties. Shrapnel fell on two houses, injuring the residents.
Critical infrastructure was damaged overnight. Dubai Airport, Abu Dhabi Airport, Burj Al Arab hotel, and Palm Island were damaged by blasts. Smoke was seen rising from these locations.
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At Jebel Ali Port, one of the berths caught fire due to a missile attack that was intercepted by authorities. Black smoke was seen billowing from the location.
Jebel Ali Port and the nearby free trade zone account for around 36% of Dubai’s gross domestic product, which includes around 10% of the world’s total container shipments, with operations stretching to Angola, Britain, Canada, India, and Peru, among others.
The Dubai Media Office and the port operator, DP World, were not immediately available to comment on the incident.
In Abu Dhabi, there were sightings of large smoke plumes rising from the Zayed Port, a witness from the Reuters news agency reported.
The incidents have disrupted operations at key commercial and transport hubs in the emirate.
Oman reported that the commercial port of Duqm was targeted by two drones, the Ministry of Information reported, with one worker sustaining injuries.
Qatar’s Interior Ministry reported that there was a small fire in an industrial area resulting from debris from an intercepted missile.
Dubai, being the focal point for tourism and trade in the Middle East, still heavily depends on its airport as one of the busiest hubs for air travel in the world.
However, it has been made clear that despite the extent of the damage, essential air traffic services have not been compromised, though no official announcements have been made about when the airport is likely to be made operational.
This recent increase in attacks reflects the vulnerability of Gulf cities from drone and missile attacks as tensions in the region escalate.
Iran’s intentions to attack US military bases have already been made public, while attacks on urban centers have resulted in collateral damage to both commercial and residential infrastructure.
Media reports from Abu Dhabi and Dubai have pointed to the spread of debris and resultant fire as a threat to the civilian population.
Official announcements have asked citizens to follow safety guidelines and avoid areas where interception is taking place.
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The fire at the Jebel Ali port has impacted one of the major berths of the port, which is crucial to the port’s operations in the import and export of containers and bulk cargo.
Considering the status of the Jebel Ali Port as an international logistics hub, such incidents have the potential to impact international maritime trade and the economy in the region.
Thick smoke and delayed operations were witnessed on Sunday at the port, and the economic impact is still to be assessed.
The Etihad Towers in Abu Dhabi, which houses the Israeli embassy and several other international missions, had not been evacuated prior to the drone debris incident, according to reports from the region.
The injuries reported have been minor in nature, and emergency response teams have confirmed their prompt response to the incident site.
Palm Jumeirah and the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai have been impacted in terms of structure due to the interception of drones in the region, although the assessment of the damage is not known.
Emergency response teams have been deployed to the site to contain the situation, and explosions have been reported in the region throughout the night from the nearby areas.
The Duqm port in Oman, which was not affected by the earlier incidents, now becomes part of the list of business centers that have been targeted by the rising tensions in the region.
According to reports from state media outlets, it was revealed that two drones were involved in targeting the port facility, causing one casualty and prompting authorities in the region to work with emergency services to determine the extent of the damages.
Incidents such as these have posed a challenge to aviation authorities in the region. For example, Dubai International Airport and Abu Dhabi International Airport have reportedly been affected by minor damages to their structures and services.