Dubai, Mar 16: A drone strike near Dubai International Airport on Monday ignited a fire at a fuel storage facility, prompting authorities to temporarily suspend flight operations, officials said.
According to the Dubai media office, the unmanned aerial device struck a fuel tank in the vicinity of the airport, triggering a blaze that was later brought under control. No injuries were reported in the incident.
Airline major Emirates confirmed that flights to and from the airport were briefly halted as a precaution while emergency teams dealt with the situation.
The attack comes amid heightened tensions across the Gulf region following the outbreak of hostilities involving Iran, Israel and the United States earlier this year. Since late February, Gulf states have experienced thousands of missile and drone incidents targeting diplomatic missions, military facilities and vital infrastructure.
Strategic installations such as oil facilities, ports, airports and commercial buildings across the region have been affected during the conflict.
The United Arab Emirates — which normalised relations with Israel in 2020 — has faced several such security threats, while other Gulf nations have also reported attacks and have collectively condemned Tehran over the escalating situation.