The United Arab Emirates said its air defences engaged a barrage of Iranian missiles and drones on Monday evening, with one drone sparking a fire at an oil facility in the emirate of Fujairah and a separate strike on an Abu Dhabi state oil tanker in the Strait of Hormuz.
The UAE Ministry of Defense said three ballistic and cruise missiles fired from Iran were intercepted while a fourth fell into the sea. Explosions heard across several emirates were caused by the interceptions. Missile threat alerts were issued in Dubai, Sharjah and Ajman before an all-clear was sounded.
Civil defence teams in Fujairah were deployed to contain a blaze at an oil facility hit by an Iranian drone, the Fujairah Media Office said. The Fujairah Media Office later reported that three Indian nationals at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone sustained moderate injuries and were taken to hospital.
Flights at Dubai International Airport and Sharjah International Airport were temporarily suspended as the strikes unfolded, Iranian state news agency FARS reported. Iranian outlets also claimed the port of Dubai was hit by missiles damaging American facilities, an assertion not independently confirmed by UAE authorities.
Earlier in the day, the UAE Foreign Ministry condemned what it called an “Iranian terrorist attack” on the Barakah, an empty crude tanker belonging to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), as it attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz. Two Iranian drones struck the tanker about 78 nautical miles north of Fujairah, according to United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. No injuries were reported.
“The UAE further stressed the need for Iran to halt these unprovoked attacks, ensure its full commitment to an immediate cessation of all hostilities, and the complete and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz,” the foreign ministry said.
Iran has not commented on the strikes. It has blocked most non-Iranian shipping from transiting the Gulf since the US and Israel began attacking Iranian targets on February 28 and has threatened to fire on unauthorised vessels.
The attacks are the first direct strikes on UAE territory since a US-Iran ceasefire was agreed about a month ago and mark a sharp escalation beyond the Iran state-media claim earlier today of having struck a US warship in the same waters. Brent crude rose roughly 5% on Monday’s earlier Hormuz reports, compounding pressure on Sri Lanka’s fuel import bill.
Sources: Newswire, Ada Derana — ADNOC tanker, Ada Derana — three missiles intercepted, Ada Derana — three Indians injured, Ada Derana — Dubai, Sharjah flights suspended.
