Dubai news live updates: UAE residents got an alert on their phone asking them to āseek shelterā amid claims of Khameneiās death. Meanwhile, Indiaās EAM Jaishankar spoke to UAE deputy prime minister and foreign minister and said that India is concerned with the escalating situation.
Dubai news live updates:Ā UAE residents received an emergency alert on their phone asking them to āseek shelterā due to āpotential missile threatsā. This came even as Israel and US officials claimed that Khamenei was killed. In a SMS message, the United Arab Emirates asked its citizens and residents to remain indoors and wait for instructions. Meanwhile, Indiaās EAM S Jaishankar spoke to UAE deputy prime minister and foreign minister and said that India is concerned with the escalating situation.
Hours after the US and Israel struck Iran, Tehran retaliated by targeting US military bases in the Persian Gulf. Missiles were intercepted in cities around the Middle East, including Doha and Abu Dhabi.
Smoke seen near hotel in Dubaiās Palm Jumeirah
Meanwhile, loud explosions were heard along with plumes of smoke seen rising near Dubaiās famed man-made island, The Palm, as authorities reported four injured.
One of the witnesses told AFP that he saw thick black smoke rising from a hotel on the Palm and heard ambulances rushing towards the scene.
The Dubai media office later confirmed an āincidentā in a building in the Palm Jumeirah area that resulted in a fire and four people were injured. āDubai Civil Defence has confirmed that the resulting fire is now under control. Four individuals sustained injuries and have been transferred to medical facilities,ā it added.
UAE defence ministry issues statement
The UAE Ministry of Defence issued a swift statement, saying that its air defence systems dealt with the missiles. āAll necessary measures are being taken to firmly confront any attempts to undermine the countryās security and stability,ā Bloomberg quoted it as saying.
The UAE said it reserved the right to respond to the Iranian attacks, slamming them as a ādangerous escalationā. Several missiles were intercepted, it said.
āThe United Arab Emirates was subjected today to a blatant attack by Iranian ballistic missiles,ā the UAE defence ministry said earlier, adding that the UAEās air defences successfully intercepted a number of the missiles.
One civilian died in Abu Dhabi, capital of the United Arab Emirates, after being struck by falling debris, according to the Ministry of Defence.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed discussed on Saturday Iranās retaliatory strikes on the Gulf and expressed solidarity and sympathy in their first call since a public row in late December, AFP reported.
They condemned a ādangerous escalation that threatens the regionās security and undermines its stability.ā
Meanwhile, governments of several countries quickly moved to issue warnings for citizens based in the Middle East, where expatriates make up a bulk of the population in countries like the UAE.
