The United Arab Emirates reported an early Sunday missile and drone attack, with air‑defence systems engaging incoming projectiles over several emirates and authorities urging residents to shelter, as the wider Middle East conflict continued to escalate. Gulf states including Bahrain and Saudi Arabia also reported intercepting aerial threats in the early hours.
Debris from an intercepted Iranian drone struck a major oil facility at the port of Fujairah, sparking a fire and leading authorities to temporarily halt some oil‑loading operations at the strategic export hub — a facility that handles roughly 1 million barrels of crude per day, Reuters reported.
Iran's joint military command said it believed the United States had used locations inside the UAE to launch strikes on Iran's Kharg Island, the primary oil export terminal. Tehran named bases including Ras Al Khaimah and areas near Dubai as alleged launch sites, though no evidence has been publicly provided and the UAE has denied its territory was used for such strikes.
Iranian officials also urged civilians to avoid areas where they claimed US forces were stationed, naming major commercial ports including Jebel Ali in Dubai and Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi, reported AP News.
The exchange of attacks comes as the conflict involving Iran, the United States and Israel entered its third week, with Iran firing repeated waves of missiles and drones at US‑linked facilities and Gulf states. Gulf air‑defence officials said most incoming threats were intercepted, but falling debris has caused some damage and fires.
The strike on Fujairah underscored growing concerns that key Gulf energy infrastructure and shipping routes — including the Strait of Hormuz — could be drawn deeper into the conflict, potentially affecting global oil markets and trade.
