Powerful explosions rocked the UAE capital, Abu Dhabi, as tensions in the region intensified following a series of military actions involving Israel, Iran and the United States. Reports indicate that Iran may have carried out a retaliatory strike aimed at US military facilities in the UAE after joint Israeli and American attacks on Iranian targets.
The situation escalated after Israel launched coordinated missile strikes on locations in Tehran early Saturday. Soon after, US President Donald Trump confirmed that American forces had also targeted sites in Iran in coordination with Israel.
In response, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is said to have launched a counter-operation, with claims that US military installations in the UAE were among the targets. Residents and social media users reported hearing loud blasts in Abu Dhabi, while missile interceptions were observed in other parts of the UAE and across the Gulf region.
The US mission in the UAE issued a warning advising heightened caution due to the ongoing hostilities. The US Embassy in Abu Dhabi and the US Consulate in Dubai directed their staff to shelter in place and urged American citizens to follow the same instructions until further notice.
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There were also unconfirmed reports of missile-intercept activity in Bahrain and near Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, suggesting that the security situation may be affecting a wider area of the Gulf. Officials have not confirmed any casualties or the extent of damage, and the situation continues to develop.
Governments across the region, along with airlines and international bodies, are closely watching the developments and advising residents and travelers to remain alert.