Onslaught on Dubai enters day two: Iran attacks emirate with hundreds of suicide drones and missiles – hitting airport, Burj Al Arab and Palm Jumeirah
Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Dubai as it continues to strike out across the Middle East after the assassination of its Supreme Leader.
Smoke was rising from Dubai International Airport this morning and blasts heard in a number of states, with Iran vowing to unleash its ‘most intense offensive operation in history’.
Tehran is launching revenge strikes after confirming Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had been killed by joint US-Israeli strikes, along with four of his family members and at least two high level military leaders.
Yesterday, Iranian suicide drones hit landmark hotels the Burj Al Araband Palm Jumeirah in Dubai, sparking panic among tourists.
Explosions were again this morning echoing across the city, which has become a haven for wealthy British expats, as it suffers renewed attacks.
The city state, which is a key transport hub between Asia and Europe, remains on high alert as Iran continues its retaliatory strikes.
Blasts have also been heard for a second day in Qatar, Israel, Bahrain and Iraq, and in Oman for the first time, though most missiles and drones have been downed by air defences.
Iran claims to have struck 27 US bases in the region after announcing they would be their main target, but has also hit other sites – including residential buildings.
Smoke rises from Dubai International Airport this morning
Dramatic footage showed showed an interception near the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
Tehran is launching revenge strikes after confirming Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured) had been killed by joint US-Israeli strikes
Multiple blasts were heard in Dubai early on Sunday morning, with large plumes of black smoke rising into the sky over the airport and all planes grounded.
The Dubai Media Office confirmed that debris from drones intercepted by air defences had fallen onto two homes in the city, injuring two people, and it also sparked a fire at the major Jebel Ali port.
Dramatic footage showed showed an interception near the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.
Further videos posted online overnight showed debris strewn around a smoke-filled terminal at Dubai Airport, which has been evacuated after four members of were injured.
A post by the airport on X read: ‘Dubai Airports confirms that a concourse at Dubai International (DXB) sustained minor damage in an incident, which was quickly contained.’
A spokesman said: ‘Emergency response teams were immediately deployed and are managing the situation in coordination with the relevant authorities.
‘Four staff sustained injuries and received prompt medical attention.
‘Due to contingency plans already in place, most of the terminals were previously cleared of passengers. Further updates will be provided as they become available.’
The UAE’s Ministry of Defence said that, as of late last night, 137 ballistic missiles had been launched by Iran towards the Emirates, of which 132 had been destroyed by air defences and five fell into the Persian Gulf.
Stranded passengers wait at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Bangladesh after flights to Dubai and Bahrain were cancelled
It said it had also been targeted by 209 suicide drones of which 195 were intercepted and 14 got through – with some hitting the territory.
This morning’s bombardment around the Middle East comes as Iran confirmed the death of the Ayatollah after hours of denial, even after Donald Trump announced he was gone.
Khamenei, 86, was killed in the airstrike after Israeli jets dropped 30 bombs on the Supreme Leader’s compound.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump were reportedly shown an image of Khamenei’s body after it was recovered from his compound.
His death comes after nearly 37 years as the Islamic Republic’s leader – wreaking havoc for the regime, and destabilizing the Gulf in the aftermath.
As well as Khamenei’s four family members, two high-level military leaders – Rear Adm. Ali Shamkhani, and commander of the IRGC Maj. Gen. Mohammad Pakpour – were also obliterated in the strikes on Saturday morning.
Meanwhile, Israel announced it had also carried out a fresh wave of strikes on Iran and struck the ‘heart’ of the capital.
A statement from the IDF said: ‘For the first time since the start of Operation ‘Roaring Lion’:
‘The IDF is striking targets that belong to the Iranian terror regime in the heart of Tehran.
‘Over the past day, the Israeli Air force conducted large-scale strikes in order to establish aerial superiority and to pave the path to Tehran.’
Overnight, Trump promised to strike Iran ‘with a force that has never been seen before,’ after boasts from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) about the number of American air bases attacked.
The president posed on Truth Social: ‘Iran just stated that they are going to hit very hard today, harder than they have ever hit before. THEY BETTER NOT DO THAT, HOWEVER, BECAUSE IF THEY DO, WE WILL HIT THEM WITH A FORCE THAT HAS NEVER BEEN SEEN BEFORE!’
A number of celebrities and influencers have been caught up in the violence, including Israeli socialite Hofit Golan and British TV stars Vicky Pattison and Laura Anderson.
Hofit, 40, posted footage from her hotel balcony of rockets and explosions hitting the famous Palm Jumeirah hotel after she arrived in Dubai just hours earlier.
Iranian state media announced there would be a 40 day mourning period after Khamenei’s death, as the regime scrambles to kickstart the process of finding a new leader.
This is a breaking news update. More to follow
