Debris from an intercepted drone struck a high-profile complex in Abu Dhabi that houses the Israeli embassy and several other international diplomatic missions,
injuring a woman and her child, state media said on Sunday, as retaliatory strikes linked to the widening Gulf conflict spread across the region.
According to Abu Dhabi’s media office, fragments from the drone hit the facade of the Etihad Towers complex after air defences intercepted the incoming threat. Residents across the emirate reported loud explosions following the interception, though officials said the injuries were minor.
The incident came a day after the United States and Israel carried out strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to warn it would retaliate against U.S. military assets in the region. Since then, the fallout has extended beyond military targets, with civilian and commercial infrastructure across several Gulf cities affected.
On Sunday, the escalation reverberated across Gulf Arab states. Explosions were heard in Dubai and Qatar’s capital Doha, while Oman reported being struck for the first time since the conflict began.
Ports, airports and landmarks hit
In Dubai, state media said two people were injured when shrapnel from intercepted drones fell onto residential homes. Several of the city’s most recognisable sites suffered damage overnight, including Dubai International Airport, the Burj Al Arab hotel and the Palm Jumeirah. Abu Dhabi International Airport was also affected.
Heavy smoke continued to rise from the Jebel Ali port area on Sunday after debris from an intercepted missile sparked a fire at one of the berths. Images showed thick black plumes visible across parts of the city. Jebel Ali is one of the region’s most critical maritime trade hubs.
In neighbouring Oman, two drones targeted the commercial port of Duqm, injuring one worker, according to the state news agency. Oman had not been hit during the initial wave of retaliatory attacks a day earlier.
Qatar’s interior ministry said debris from an intercepted missile caused a limited fire in an industrial zone, adding that emergency services were responding and the situation was under control.
Dubai, the Middle East’s largest tourism and trade hub, is home to one of the world’s busiest airports, underscoring concerns that the expanding conflict could disrupt global travel, shipping and energy markets if the violence continues to spill into civilian areas. Photo by Ijanderson977, Wikimedia commons.