Dubai airport suspends flights after drone-related fuel tank fire

Flights were temporarily suspended on Monday at Dubai International Airport, authorities in the emirate announced, after a fire broke out at a fuel tank linked to a drone attack, AFP reported.

The Dubai Civil Aviation Authority said flights at Dubai International Airport were temporarily halted as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of all passengers and staff, the Dubai Media Office said on X, CE Report quotes AGERPRES.

According to the same source, a “drone-related incident” earlier caused a fire at a fuel tank at the airport, though no injuries were reported. The fire has since been brought under control.

Dubai Airport is the world’s busiest airport for international passenger traffic and serves as the main hub for Emirates, the largest airline in the Middle East.

Its operations have been heavily disrupted since the start of the U.S.-Israeli operation against Iran on February 28 and the retaliatory attacks launched by the Islamic Republic against the United Arab Emirates and its Gulf neighbors.

Last week, authorities in Dubai reported four people injured when a drone crashed near the airport.

Since the beginning of the war, Iran has launched more than 1,800 missiles and drones at the UAE, according to the Emirati Defense Ministry, disrupting life in this major financial center and one of the world’s key air traffic hubs.

Although the country’s civil defense forces intercepted most of the projectiles, according to authorities, the Emirati Defense Ministry reported six deaths since the start of the war, including four civilians and two soldiers who died in a helicopter crash attributed to a technical malfunction.

Iran has targeted U.S. military bases and economic interests in neighboring Gulf states, as well as civilian infrastructure such as airports, ports and oil facilities.

In Saudi Arabia, the Defense Ministry announced on Monday morning that five drones were intercepted in the eastern part of the country.

Meanwhile, Kuwait reported early Monday that two drones had been destroyed over the past 24 hours.

On Sunday, an Italian-American military base in Kuwait was also targeted by a drone attack, according to the Italian army.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi justified the attacks by citing “numerous pieces of evidence” that, in his view, show U.S. bases in Gulf states are being used to target Iran.

As a sign of growing skepticism about a quick resolution to the conflict, the two Formula One World Championship races scheduled in Bahrain (April 10–12) and Saudi Arabia (April 17–19) have been canceled.