A luxury hotel in Dubai was struck as Iran carried out retaliatory attacks across the Middle East, responding to what it described as a “massive” and continuing assault against it by the United States and Israel.
BBC-verified footage shows flames engulfing the Fairmont The Palm Hotel, with dense black smoke billowing into the sky above the Palm Jumeirah.
Authorities in Dubai confirmed that four individuals were injured in a fire at a building in the Palm Jumeirah district, adding that emergency crews brought the blaze under control. Officials did not provide further specifics regarding the incident.
Elsewhere across the region, Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait, countries that host US military installations, reported intercepting missiles launched in their direction.
In Bahrain’s capital, Manama, substantial plumes of black smoke were visible near the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet. The scale of any damage remains uncertain, and US officials have not yet issued a statement.
In Doha, Qatar’s defence ministry announced that it had intercepted multiple missiles believed to be aimed at the al-Udeid air base, the largest US military installation in the region.
Another verified video captured from a building opposite the Dubai hotel shows the precise moment of impact.
An explosion follows, producing a large orange fireball as the individual recording appears to fall to the ground. Thick smoke later rose above the five-star hotel while emergency responders converged on the site.
Iranian state media had earlier reported that Dubai was among the targets of its strikes, though specific objectives have not been clarified.
The United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of defence stated on X that its air defence systems successfully intercepted several drones and missiles. It characterized the Iranian actions as a “blatant violation of national sovereignty and international law”.
The United States maintains approximately 13 military bases across the Middle East, with an estimated 30,000 to 40,000 personnel typically stationed throughout the region.
Authorities in Bahrain confirmed that the US naval facility, officially known as Naval Support Activity Bahrain, had been targeted.
The base serves as the home port for vessels, including anti-mine ships and logistical support craft, although it remains unclear whether any ships were present at the time of the attack. Video from Manama shows a drone striking a tower block, erupting into a bright yellow fireball.
Iranian Missile Response
In Kuwait, explosions were reported, and the state news agency Kuna stated that a drone targeting the international airport resulted in “minor injuries to several employees” and “limited” damage to one of the terminals.
Footage from Doha shows explosions in the vicinity of al-Udeid air base. Additional video depicts dozens of people fleeing from a descending missile in a residential neighborhood.
Qatar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the “targeting of Qatari territory with Iranian ballistic missiles,” describing it as “a flagrant violation of its national sovereignty” and an “unacceptable escalation”.
According to Reuters, US air defence systems also intercepted a drone over a US military base near Erbil, Iraq.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) announced that it was striking US bases and assets as part of operation “Truthful Promise 4”, in response to the joint US-Israel assault launched on Saturday morning.
That operation began at approximately 09:30 Tehran time (06:00 GMT) and has reportedly focused on sites associated with Iran’s leadership. US President Donald Trump has publicly urged the Iranian population to rise against their government.
The UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) reported receiving warnings that shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz could be suspended.
The strait, situated between Iran and the coasts of the United Arab Emirates and Oman, is one of the most critical maritime corridors in the world.
Roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies transit through it. Any closure would have significant economic repercussions, potentially disrupting international trade and driving oil prices sharply higher.
In Israel, air raid sirens sounded across the country throughout Saturday. The Israeli military stated that Iran had launched multiple waves of missiles and that its air force was actively intercepting them.
Jordan’s armed forces reported downing two ballistic missiles aimed at its territory, with authorities confirming no casualties.
The UAE defence ministry also declared that the country had faced “a blatant attack involving Iranian ballistic missiles”.
It stated that “UAE air defence systems dealt with the missiles with high efficiency and successfully intercepted a number of missiles”. Officials added that debris fell in a residential district of Abu Dhabi, causing material damage and resulting in one civilian fatality.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the US and Israeli operation as “wholly unprovoked, illegal, and illegitimate”. He asserted that Iran’s armed forces “are prepared for this day and will teach the aggressors the lesson they deserve”.
