Iran has reportedly fired missiles and drones at the UAE, leaving three injured. Others have taken to social media to say that they felt windows shake in Dubai’s Marina.
The Middle East has been in turmoil since February 28, when the US and Israel carried out joint strikes on several key Iranian sites. Iran retaliated by striking sites across the region and closing the critical Strait of Hormuz trade route.
Despite a short-term ceasefire, no long-term peace plan has been reached, and Iran has again targetted its neighbours.
The UAE said it had engaged a number of missiles and drones launched from Iran on Monday, May 4.
The defence ministry said its air defence systems engaged 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones.
It is understood that one missile struck a petroleum site in the eastern emirate of Fujairah. Fujairah’s Media Office said a drone sparked a fire at the site.
Tensions have also risen over the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of global oil traded passes.
United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that a ship was struck 36 nautical miles north of Dubai. It is understood that a fire broke out in the engine room. All crew are accounted for.
One person posted on social media: “Big boom heard in Marina, windows shook.”
Another, in the nearby city of Sharjah, added: “Big jerking of doors and windows here.”
And a third said they heard a “big boom” from their residence in Dubai Hills.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on X early on Tuesday, May 5 that both the US and the UAE “should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire.”
The country’s state television earlier quoted an anonymous military official as saying Tehran had had “no plan” to target the UAE or one of its oil fields.
“The incident resulted from US military adventurism to create an illegal passage,” the official said about the oil facility attack, apparently referring to Trump’s latest efforts to reopen the strait.
