A drone attack ignited a fire at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone in the United Arab Emirates as Iran continues sustained strikes on Gulf states amid the US‑Israel military campaign on Iranian soil. Fujairah’s government media office said there were no casualties. The energy facility lies about 150km (93 miles) east of Dubai.
The incident follows a separate fire at the Fujairah hub on Saturday, which began after debris fell when a drone was intercepted. Abu Dhabi authorities also reported falling debris in the Bani Yas area after air defences intercepted a ballistic missile; that episode resulted in the death of a Pakistani national, the Abu Dhabi media office said.
The UAE Ministry of Defence said its air defences were actively repelling incoming missiles and drones from Iran, producing loud detonations and prompting a temporary closure of UAE airspace.
Iran has defended strikes on Gulf countries by arguing that the presence of US military bases makes those states legitimate targets, following joint US‑Israeli air attacks on Tehran on February 28. Yet civilian infrastructure across the Gulf — including landmarks, airports, ports and oil facilities — has been struck.
The UAE, which normalised relations with Israel in 2020, has borne the heaviest toll: Tehran has launched more than 1,800 missiles and drones at the UAE, more than at any other country in the campaign. All Gulf Arab states have been affected, with more than 2,000 missile and drone strikes reported since the conflict began.
On Tuesday, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait also intercepted incoming missiles and drones. Qatar’s Ministry of Interior reported civil defence crews responding to a “limited fire” in an industrial area caused by shrapnel from an intercepted missile and said no injuries were recorded. Residents in Doha reported hearing explosions; authorities said they were handling the situation.
Al Jazeera’s Victoria Gatenby, reporting from Doha, said authorities were dealing with the incident and that no one had been hurt. She added the wider regional disruption has been severe: the UAE closed its airspace for several hours early in the morning amid missile attack warnings, forcing major hubs such as Dubai International Airport to cancel or reschedule flights and causing widespread disruption for passengers. Gatenby also noted that the Abu Dhabi death followed confirmation that a Palestinian man had been killed the previous day when a rocket fell on a residential area.
Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense said two drones were intercepted and destroyed in the country’s east; earlier statements said six drones had been engaged and successfully destroyed. The Kuwait National Guard said it intercepted two drones, without providing details on the intended targets.
In a joint statement, Gulf Cooperation Council countries condemned the attacks, calling them “sinful Iranian attacks,” and pledged to defend their territories.
