Dubai authorities tackled a fire near the city’s international airport on Monday, following a drone attack that prompted a temporary suspension of flights.
This latest event unfolds amidst significant global aviation disruption caused by the US-Israel war against Iran. Flights across the Middle East have faced widespread cancellations, rescheduling, and rerouting, with much of the region’s airspace closed due to fears of missile and drone strikes. The ongoing crisis has also contributed to soaring fuel prices.
Monday’s attack marks the third such incident at Dubai airport, one of the world’s busiest international travel hubs, since Iran commenced its assaults on Gulf nations on 28 February. Tehran has stated these strikes are aimed at the US presence in the region. Despite the United Arab Emirates and other Gulf countries, alongside Iraq, Jordan, and Turkey, hosting US military facilities, Iran has repeatedly targeted civilian infrastructure, including airports, hotels, and ports, with missiles and drones.
No injuries were reported in the incident and flights were resuming just after 6am.
“A drone incident in the vicinity of Dubai International Airport affected one of the fuel tanks,” the Dubai media office said on X.
Traffic was temporarily halted on road and tunnel links with the airport, police said, while the Emirates airline suspended flights with Dubai.
Some flights were diverted to the Al Maktoum International Airport, the Dubai media office said on X.
Gulf Arab states have faced more than 2,000 missile and drone attacks since February 28, with targets including U.S. diplomatic missions and military bases but also key Gulf oil infrastructure as well as homes and offices.
The United Arab Emirates, which normalised relations with Iran’s arch-foe Israel in 2020, has faced the brunt of the attacks. But all Gulf Arab states have been affected, and all have condemned Iran.
On March 11, two drones fell near the Dubai international airport, which suffered damaged on the first day of the conflict during an overnight Iranian attack across Gulf states.
