Gulf states were subjected to new attacks overnight, with drones and missiles striking airports and luxury hotels. According to the UAE's state news agency, one person died when Iranian missiles were shot down in Abu Dhabi. In Dubai, four people are injured from an airport attack, Al Jazeera reports.
Dubai International Airport was damaged in what authorities called an 'incident', grounding thousands of flights. On Saturday, all flights to and from Dubai were canceled. Luxury hotels were also hit.
Due to a deteriorated security situation, the Ministry for Foreign Affairs advises against non-essential travel to the United Arab Emirates.
Dubai Media Office writes on X that parts of a drone hit the Burj Al Arab building, causing a fire. The luxury hotel Fairmont The Palm on Palm Jumeirah was earlier hit by debris from an Iranian drone or missile, triggering a major fire and injuring several people, according to authorities and eyewitnesses. Bahrain's airport was subjected to a drone attack, according to Reuters.
According to Bahrain's interior ministry, the drone caused only material damage. The Iranian government confirmed on Saturday that it carried out attacks against several targets, according to the Fars news agency. The attacks include targets in Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE, where airbases with American assets are stationed, according to Al Jazeera.
We have seen enough footage that makes it look like there has been deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure by these one-way attack drones.
All Gulf states except Oman have so far reported being subjected to some form of attack from Iran, AFP reports. Israel's military states that it has initiated a new wave of attacks against Iran's ballistic missile and air defense systems. Explosions were heard in Iran's capital Tehran during the night towards Sunday.
Sweden's Ministry for Foreign Affairs advises against travel to the UAE due to a deteriorated security situation. A travel advisory has also been issued for Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. Intelligence experts allege that Iran has deliberately targeted civilian sites which could constitute a war crime.
McKenzie Intelligence Services told the Express that several Iranian strikes on civilian locations, including hotels, ports, and airports, appear to have been intentional.