Missiles rock Gulf as one killed in Abu Dhabi, regional airspace shut

At least one person has been killed in Abu Dhabi after the United Arab Emirates intercepted several missiles reportedly launched from Iran, the country’s state news agency has said.

Authorities described the attack as a “flagrant violation of national sovereignty and international law,” warning that the UAE “reserves its full right to respond to this escalation.”

Multiple explosions were later reported in both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, with Emirati airspace closed following the earlier strike.

In Tehran, a loud explosion was also heard in the Iranian capital, according to reports by Al Jazeera Arabic. Further details were not immediately available.

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the country had been targeted by a “brutal air operation” carried out by the United States and Israel. In a statement, it said the strikes occurred “once again during negotiations,” adding that Iran would not yield to what it described as pressure tactics.

According to Iran’s Fars News Agency, the following sites in the Gulf region were targeted: Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, Al-Salem Air Base in Kuwait, Al-Dhafra Air Base in the UAE, and the US Fifth Fleet base in Bahrain.

Meanwhile, explosions were also reported in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, according to AFP.

The rapidly escalating situation has disrupted regional aviation. Qatar Airways announced the suspension of all flights due to the closure of Qatari airspace. Turkish Airlines also cancelled flights to multiple destinations across the Middle East, including Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, the UAE, Oman, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Iran and Jordan.

Tensions across the Gulf have surged sharply amid the widening confrontation, raising fears of a broader regional conflict.

Source: Al Jazeera