DUBAI: Explosions reverberated across several Middle Eastern capitals on Saturday as the conflict triggered by strikes from the United States and Israel against Iran rapidly widened, shattering the relative calm long enjoyed by parts of the Gulf.
In Dubai, residents looked on in disbelief as flames rose from a luxury hotel on Palm Jumeirah after what authorities later described as debris from an intercepted aerial threat. Early reports on social media claimed an Iranian missile had struck the Fairmont hotel, injuring four people, with videos showing fire near the entrance.
Dubai’s media office subsequently said civil defence teams had swiftly contained the blaze and reported no injuries. Officials also confirmed that part of Dubai International Airport sustained minor damage in a separate incident, without elaborating.
Earlier, posts on X suggested that debris from an intercepted drone had sparked a fire near the iconic Burj Al Arab. In neighbouring Abu Dhabi, authorities acknowledged an incident at Zayed International Airport, though details remained unclear after an initial social media statement mentioning casualties was removed.
“Everyone is very scared,” said one Dubai resident, describing footage of missile interceptions lighting up the night sky. With airspace temporarily closed, some residents packed bags in case the situation deteriorated further.
Gulf stability shaken
Beyond the United Arab Emirates, other Gulf states experienced similar turmoil. Within hours of the first US and Israeli bombardments on Iranian targets, Tehran launched retaliatory strikes that appeared to target American military installations across the region, drawing multiple countries into the crisis.
In Bahrain, a drone strike hit a high-rise building, igniting a blaze. The country’s national security agency was also reportedly struck earlier in the day. Unverified footage circulating online showed explosions near a major US naval facility in the kingdom.
In Kuwait, authorities reported damage at the main airport after a drone crashed into the facility, injuring several staff members.
Iranian-backed armed groups quickly signalled their involvement. In Iraq, bases linked to the Popular Mobilisation Forces were hit in strikes attributed to either Washington or Tel Aviv, killing at least two members of Kataib Hezbollah. The group vowed retaliation against US positions.
Yemen’s Houthi movement, aligned with Tehran, also warned it would target American military sites. The rapid escalation marked a dramatic expansion compared with hostilities in mid-2025, which had largely remained confined to direct exchanges between Israel and Iran.
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Anxiety spreads in Lebanon and Jordan
The ripple effects were felt across the Levant. In Lebanon, motorists queued at petrol stations and supermarkets saw a rush on essential goods. At Beirut’s airport, travellers faced flight cancellations as fears mounted that the powerful Iran-backed movement Hezbollah could enter the conflict.
In a statement, Hezbollah condemned US and Israeli actions as violations of international law but stopped short of declaring military involvement. Many Lebanese expressed concern that any intervention could prompt a large-scale Israeli response.
Meanwhile in Jordan, debris from intercepted missiles fell over the northern city of Irbid, sparking fires and adding to public alarm as air defence systems engaged incoming projectiles.
Diplomatic fallout
Several Arab governments condemned what they described as violations of their sovereignty. Qatar denounced Iranian strikes on its territory as a direct threat to national security, warning that it reserved the right to respond.
Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, told US media that Tehran’s actions were aimed at American bases in self-defence, insisting it had no intention of attacking Gulf nations directly. However, previous rounds of confrontation had largely spared the monarchies from direct fire, making the latest incidents particularly unsettling.
Gulf leaders had earlier sought to dissuade Washington from launching strikes on Iran, wary of regional destabilisation. Analysts suggested Tehran’s willingness to impose costs on neighbouring states could be intended to pressure them into lobbying the White House to halt its campaign. Others cautioned that widening the battlefield risked alienating governments that had privately urged restraint.
As night fell, uncertainty gripped cities from the Gulf to the Mediterranean, with residents bracing for further escalation in a conflict that appeared to be spreading beyond its original front lines.