Dubai's Fairmont Hotel Engulfed in Flames After Iranian Missile Strike
Firefighters and rescue teams were seen inspecting the site of a devastating explosion at the Fairmont the Palm Hotel in Dubai on Saturday. This incident occurred as the war launched by the United States and Israel against Iran quickly escalated, spreading anxiety and concern throughout the Middle East. Residents watched in shock as an Iranian missile struck the five-star hotel located in Dubai's luxurious Palm Jumeirah area.
Widespread Panic and Injuries Reported
Social media videos captured fires breaking out near the hotel's entrance, resulting in four people being injured. One resident described the scene, stating, "Everyone is very scared" as the situation in Dubai continued to deteriorate. They added, "There is footage of missile interceptions all over the city. I am packing a suitcase just in case ... Not that we can leave, because airspace is closed. It is the thing we have all been frightened about happening, and now it has."
Iran's Retaliatory Attacks Across the Gulf
Within hours of the initial US and Israeli bombings, Iran responded with a wide-ranging attack targeting more than six countries, including previously stable oases in the Gulf. In Bahrain, an Iranian drone flew into a high-rise building, exploding and engulfing the skyscraper in flames, while the country's national security agency was also hit by a missile. Social media footage appeared to show a missile striking the massive US naval base in Bahrain as well.
In Kuwait, a drone crashed into the country's main airport, wounding several employees and causing significant damage to the facility. These strikes marked a significant escalation, as Iran had previously avoided targeting Gulf states in past conflicts.
Proxy Groups Join the Fray
As Iran bombed the Gulf and Israel in retaliation, its proxies entered the conflict. Bases belonging to the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq were struck by either the US or Israel, killing at least two members of the armed Iraqi group Kataeb Hezbollah. In response, Kataib Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthis warned they would join strikes on US military bases across the region.
Just a few hours into what Washington termed Operation Epic Fury, the fighting had already expanded far beyond the geographic scope of the previous war in Iran in June 2025, which was largely confined to Israel and Iran.
Regional Anxiety and Economic Impact
For citizens across the Middle East, the escalating war prompted widespread anxiety and concern. In Lebanon, gas stations saw lines ten cars deep within an hour of the strikes, while commercial flights were canceled at Beirut airport. Grocery stores were filled with cautious residents stocking up on essential goods, with memories of the 2024 war with Israel still fresh.
All eyes were on Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group that had previously stated the killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was a red line. A statement from the group on Saturday afternoon condemned what it described as a violation of the UN charter by the US and Israel, but did not mention whether it would assist Iran. Many Lebanese feared Hezbollah's entry into the conflict, worried it might trigger a wide-ranging Israeli attack on Lebanon.
Condemnation from Arab States
Explosions rocked other parts of the Middle East as Israel intercepted incoming Iranian ballistic missiles above various countries. In Jordan, fires blazed in the northern city of Irbid as missile shrapnel fell from the sky and ignited.
The attacks drew strong condemnation from Arab states around the region, who called the Iranian strikes a violation of their sovereignty. Qatar labeled the strikes on its territory a "direct assault on national security," while other Gulf states warned they reserved the right to respond. Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi stated in an interview with NBC that he told Gulf states, "We have no intention to attack them but we are actually attacking the American bases in the act of self-defence."
Strategic Implications and Diplomatic Pressures
Attacking Gulf states was a line Iran had not crossed in past conflicts, with rare attacks on oil infrastructure remaining unclaimed. Gulf states had previously attempted to prevent the Trump administration from attacking Iran, fearing blowback and unintended consequences that could destabilize the region. Some analysts suggested that imposing material costs on these stable kingdoms, unaccustomed to wars in their backyards, might pressure them to urge Trump to halt the bombing campaign.
Certain ruling families, such as the al-Thani family in Qatar and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, maintain close relationships with Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law, who plays a significant role in shaping US Middle East policy. Conversely, other analysts warned that targeting Gulf kingdoms could backfire, alienating voices that had previously lobbied the US to reconsider its military campaign against Iran.
