DUBAI, UAE – The Middle East found itself engulfed in a rapidly expanding conflict on Saturday as a war initiated by the United States and Israel against Iran escalated dramatically. The world-renowned Fairmont Hotel in Dubai became an early casualty, reportedly struck by an Iranian missile and subsequently consumed by flames.
Eyewitnesses in Dubai’s opulent Palm Jumeirah district watched in disbelief as the five-star landmark was hit. Social media footage depicted intense fires near the hotel’s entrance, with reports indicating at least four individuals sustained injuries.
“Everyone is very scared,” one resident told The Zimbabwe Times as the situation in Dubai deteriorated. “There is footage of missile interceptions all over the city. I am packing a suitcase just in case… not that we can leave, because the airspace is closed. It is the nightmare we have all been dreading, and now it has arrived.”
A Bastion of Stability Shaken
Previously considered bastions of stability, other Gulf nations experienced similar scenes of chaos. Within hours of the initial US and Israeli bombardments, Tehran launched a broad retaliatory assault, targeting over six countries and drawing in regions previously unaffected by the escalating crisis.
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In Bahrain: An Iranian drone reportedly struck a high-rise building, causing a massive explosion. This followed an earlier missile strike on the nation’s national security agency.
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In Kuwait: A drone crashed into the main international airport, injuring several staff members and causing significant structural damage.
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Military Targets: Footage emerged appearing to show a missile impact at the substantial US naval base in Bahrain.
As Iran retaliated against the strikes by bombing targets across the Gulf and Israel, its allied proxy groups joined the hostilities. Bases belonging to the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) in Iraq were reportedly hit by US or Israeli forces, leading to the deaths of at least two members of Kataib Hezbollah. In response, both Kataib Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthis issued warnings that they would begin striking US military installations across the region.
Just hours into what Washington has termed “Operation Epic Fury,” the conflict had already expanded significantly beyond the geographical scope of the June 2025 hostilities, which were largely confined to direct exchanges between Israel and Iran.
For citizens across the Middle East, the escalation has triggered widespread panic. In Lebanon, gas stations saw queues ten cars deep within an hour of the first strikes. At Beirut airport, commercial flights were abruptly canceled, while grocery stores were swamped by citizens stocking up on essentials, the memory of the 2024 war with Israel still painfully fresh.
All eyes remain focused on Hezbollah. While the group previously declared the killing of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei a “red line,” a statement released Saturday afternoon notably omitted any mention of direct military intervention. Instead, the group condemned the US and Israel for what it described as a “violation of the UN charter.”
Diplomatic Fallout and Sovereignty
The attacks drew fierce condemnation from Arab states, who characterized Iran’s actions as a blatant violation of their sovereignty. Qatar labeled the strikes on its territory a “direct assault on national security,” asserting its right to respond.
However, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi maintained in an interview with NBC that Tehran has no intention of attacking Gulf neighbors directly. “We are actually attacking the American bases in an act of self-defense,” Araghchi stated.
By imposing significant material costs on stable monarchies, analysts suggest Iran may be attempting to pressure Gulf leaders to use their influence in Washington. Ruling families in Qatar and Saudi Arabia maintain close ties with Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s son-in-law, who remains a central figure in shaping Middle East policy.
Conversely, some experts caution that targeting these kingdoms could backfire, alienating the very voices that had previously advocated for US restraint. As explosions continue to reverberate across the region and missile shrapnel falls over cities as far as Irbid, Jordan, the Middle East stands on the precipice of a total regional war.
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