March 1, 2026 | UAE
Chaos erupted across the United Arab Emirates on Sunday as Iranian retaliatory attacks targeted Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports, leaving at least one person dead and 11 others injured, SUNTV Global Channel reports. The strikes mark a dramatic escalation following coordinated U.S. and Israeli military operations against Iran.
Abu Dhabi authorities confirmed that a drone aimed at Zayed International Airport was intercepted by air defense systems. While the drone was neutralized, debris fell onto airport grounds, killing one individual and injuring seven others, according to official reports. Emergency services were quickly dispatched to secure the area and assess the damage.
In Dubai, an incident at Dubai International Airport injured four airport staff members. Officials confirmed that airport infrastructure sustained damage, causing operational disruptions and prompting heightened security measures. Thousands of flights across the Gulf were canceled or delayed, making this one of the region’s most severe travel disruptions since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Explosions were reported in multiple Gulf cities, including Doha, Dubai, and Manama, as Iran continued launching missiles and drones targeting military and strategic installations. Tehran claims the strikes were in retaliation for U.S.-Israeli air raids on Iranian targets, which reportedly killed the country’s supreme leader during early Saturday operations.
Governments in Qatar, Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait reported intercepting incoming projectiles with their air defense systems, though falling debris caused structural damage in several locations. Dubai also confirmed a fire at a berth in Jebel Ali Port after debris from an aerial interception landed on-site, temporarily halting some port operations.
Bahrain’s Interior Ministry stated that its airport sustained damage following a drone strike, but casualty figures were not immediately released. Meanwhile, Oman’s state news agency reported two drones struck the commercial port of Duqm, injuring one worker and causing limited infrastructure damage.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for a strike targeting the U.S. Navy Fifth Fleet headquarters in Manama, with witnesses reporting thick black smoke rising near the facility.
The escalating conflict has fueled fears of a broader regional war. Governments across the Middle East are reinforcing security around airports, ports, and military sites while urging civilians to remain vigilant as retaliatory strikes continue.
