- A video shows an explosion and smoke near Dubai's Burj Khalifa after Iranian retaliation
- Black smoke appeared after an Iranian drone was reportedly spotted near the Burj Khalifa
- It is unclear if the Burj Khalifa was targeted or sustained any damage from the incident
A video has surfaced showing an explosion and smoke near the world's tallest building in Dubai as Iran retaliated against the US and Israeli strikes. Black smoke is seen rising in a distant video soon after an Iranian drone was reportedly spotted near the Burj Khalifa. It's not clear if the iconic Dubai skyscraper was the target of an attack and if it suffered any damage. The building was evacuated earlier in the day as explosions rang through other parts of the city.
The Burj Khalifa, standing 828-metre-tall in the heart of Dubai, is worth an estimated $1.5 billion. Overlooking the Dubai cityscape and the Arabian Gulf, the massive structure draws millions of visitors every year to its observation decks on the 124th, 125th, and 148th floors.
The skyscraper is insured for roughly $1.5 billion for its developer, Emaar Properties, which covers its main structure, while individual apartments, hotel interiors, and offices have been separately insured by their owners.
Explosions In Dubai
Dubai has been one of the major cities in the Gulf region that felt the brunt of Middle East chaos as Iran vowed a "decisive response" against the strikes.
An explosion was reported from the iconic Palm Jumeirah area earlier in the day, with a building seen on fire on the man-made island. Visuals showed black smoke rising from the man-made island while Dubai residents reported several loud bangs after the explosion. A witness told news agency AFP that they heard ambulances rushing towards the scene.
Read: Explosion At The Palm In Dubai, Smoke Seen Rising From Building
Four individuals were injured in the incident and taken for treatment, confirmed the Dubai Media Office, adding that the fire has now been brought under control. Authorities have urged residents and tourists in Dubai to remain calm and refrain from circulating visuals of the incident on social media.
In another video from the city, shared by Nexta TV, a deadly Shahed drone was seen in action. The drone hit an area between two buildings in a heavily populated part of Dubai with a loud explosion as flames leaped into the air. The Shahed drones are among the deadliest in Iran's arsenal. It's not clear if a similar drone was involved in the incident at Burj Khalifa.
US, Israel Attack; Iran's Retaliation
The US and Israel launched a barrage of preemptive attacks on Iran this morning, branded as 'Operation Epic Fury,' capping days of speculations over action aimed at a change in Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's regime in Iran. Several explosions were reported near the offices of the 86-year-old Supreme Leader.
Read: Khamenei Dead Or Alive? Israeli Claim Meets Iran's "As Far As I Know" Reply
"Drop arms or face death," warned US President Donald Trump, justifying the strikes on Iran as necessary to defend the American people.
Iran closed its airspace soon after the strikes and vowed to respond decisively. "The Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran will respond decisively to the aggressors...Just as we were ready for negotiations, we are now more prepared than ever to defend the Iranian nation," the Iranian Foreign Ministry said in a statement.
