Explosions Rock Dubai and Riyadh
Amid escalating regional conflict, explosions were reported in Dubai, UAE, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The cause and full details of the blasts remain unclear. The timing, which coincides with the major US-Israeli strikes on Iran, is raising fears of a wider spillover conflict across the Gulf.
The retaliatory strikes by Iran extended across the Gulf, with Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar also reporting missile interceptions. In Abu Dhabi, the UAE's capital, one person was killed after missile debris fell in a residential area. The US Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters in Bahrain was among the targeted sites. This escalation follows a major joint military operation by the United States and Israel against Iran, dubbed "Operation Epic Fury" by the Pentagon. The strikes targeted multiple cities, including Tehran, and aimed at crippling Iran's capabilities, with one Israeli official stating the operation was planned with "unprecedented coordination." The immediate trigger for the US-Israeli offensive was linked to Iran's nuclear program. Weeks of threats from the Trump administration preceded the attack, demanding a new deal to curb Iran's uranium enrichment. As of late 2025, Iran had significantly increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60%, a level close to weapons-grade. The direct Iranian retaliation against Gulf Arab states marks a significant development, as these nations have recently pursued diplomatic de-escalation with Tehran. Following years of rivalry and a proxy war in Yemen, Saudi Arabia and Iran agreed to restore diplomatic relations in March 2023 in a deal brokered by China. The UAE, a major business and tourism hub, also has a complex relationship with Iran, balancing deep economic ties with security concerns. Dubai is home to a large Iranian expatriate community, and bilateral trade has historically been significant. Iran has a well-established network of proxy forces across the Middle East, including Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen, which it has used to project power. The Houthis have previously launched attacks against both Saudi Arabia and the UAE, utilizing Iranian-supplied missile and drone technology. Following the US-Israeli strikes, a senior Iranian security official, Ali Shamkhani, was reported killed. In a direct message to the Iranian people, President Trump encouraged them to "take over your government," suggesting a strategic goal of regime change. Air travel in the region has been severely impacted, with Dubai International Airport suspending all flights. Both Qatar and the UAE had closed their airspace as the attacks unfolded.
