Video Shows Iranian Shahed Drone Striking Dubai, Huge Explosion

A day of horrifying images following the US-Israel strikes on Iran, and Tehran's retaliation, also threw up an unexpected one - a deadly Shahed drone hitting the heart of Dubai. 

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A video shared by Nexta shows the Iranian drone plummeting towards a heavily populated part of the city and then hitting an area between two buildings. While it wasn't immediately clear what was hit, a loud explosion can be heard and flames are seen leaping into the air.

The Shahed drones are some of the deadliest in Iran's arsenal. The precision-attack loitering munition systems behave like a cross between a drone and a cruise missile and reportedly have a maximum range of 2,500 km, enabling their launch from deep within Iranian territory or by proxies across the Middle East.

Their low cost - between $20,000 and $50,000 a unit - often makes them cheaper than interceptor missiles, and they can carry payloads of between 30 and 50 kg. 

These drones have also been used by Hamas, the Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthi rebels in Yemen in the past. They have also played a role in the Russia-Ukraine war.

This was not the only attack by Iran - which is targeting US assets in countries in the Middle East - on Dubai on Saturday. Another video by Nexta showed a drone hitting an area very close to the Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building. Live updates

An explosion was also reported at the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai's iconic man-made island known for its upscale residential towers and hotels. Four people were injured and taken for treatment. 

"Dubai authorities confirm that an incident occurred in a building in the Palm Jumeirah area. Emergency response teams were deployed immediately, and the site has been secured. Dubai Civil Defence has confirmed that the resulting fire is now under control," said the Dubai Media Office.