A drone attack triggered a fire at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone in the UAE; officials reported no casualties at the site about 150 km east of Dubai. Abu Dhabi said debris from an intercepted ballistic missile killed one Pakistani national. Gulf states say their air defences are repelling incoming missiles and drones attributed to Iran after joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran, with more than 2,000 attacks reported across the region.
Drone Sparks Blaze at Fujairah Oil Hub as Iran-Linked Strikes Spread Across the Gulf
A fire broke out on Saturday in the oil facility in Fujairah, UAE, after debris fell during the interception of a drone. [File: Altaf Qadri/AP]
A drone strike ignited a fire at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone in the United Arab Emirates, part of a wave of missile and drone attacks that Gulf states have attributed to Iran following joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28.
The Fujairah government’s media office said on Tuesday that there were no casualties at the energy facility, which lies about 150 km (93 miles) east of Dubai. The blaze followed a separate Saturday fire at the same oil hub, reportedly started when debris fell during the interception of a drone.
Abu Dhabi authorities reported a separate incident in the Bani Yas area in which debris from an intercepted ballistic missile fell to the ground; the Abu Dhabi media office said the incident caused the death of a Pakistani national.
The UAE Ministry of Defence said its air defences were actively repelling incoming missiles and drones believed to originate from Iran, producing loud detonations and prompting a short closure of UAE airspace. Officials across the Gulf say civilian infrastructure — including landmarks, airports, ports and oil facilities — has been damaged in the campaign.
Regional Impact
Gulf states report that more than 2,000 missiles and drones have been fired across the region since the conflict began, with the UAE reporting more than 1,800 such strikes directed at its territory — a higher total than any other state in the hostilities.
On the same day, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait also reported interceptions. Qatar’s Ministry of Interior said Civil Defence teams were extinguishing a "limited fire" in an industrial area after shrapnel from an intercepted missile fell; no injuries were reported. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defence said it intercepted and destroyed multiple drones in the country’s east. The Kuwait National Guard announced successful interceptions of two drones but did not provide target details.
In a joint statement, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) condemned what it called the “sinful Iranian attacks” and pledged to defend its territories. Iran has defended its strikes by arguing that the presence of US military bases in some Gulf states makes those facilities legitimate targets.
Note: Attribution of the strikes to specific actors reflects statements by Gulf governments and allied officials.
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