- Anwar Gargash warned Iran against targeting neighbours amid ongoing attacks in the Gulf region
- Iran launched drone and missile strikes on Israel and US bases in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Qatar
- Explosions continued in Dubai, Manama, and Doha, raising fears of a prolonged conflict
The Diplomatic Adviser to the UAE President, Anwar Gargash, warned Iran to not target its neighbours, calling on the Islamic Republic to "return to reason" as its retaliatory attacks in the region entered their second day.
"The Iranian aggression against the Gulf states was a miscalculation, and it isolated Iran at a critical juncture. Your war is not with your neighbours," he said.
"Return to reason, to your surroundings, and deal with your neighbours rationally and responsibly before the circle of isolation and escalation widens," he added.
Anwar Gargash speaks during a press conference in Sudan's capital Khartoum on January 14, 2020
Photo Credit: AFP
Why Iran Struck Arab Countries
The US and Israel attacked Iran on Saturday in a massive operation, and Tehran hours later said Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was dead. In announcing the attack, US President Donald Trump urged Iranians to seize the moment and "take over".
In counterattacks, Iran fired drones and missiles at Israel and aimed strikes at US military installations in Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. Exchanges of fire continued into early Sunday.
Read | Khamenei's Killing "Cynical Violation Of Morality, International Law": Putin
Explosions were heard for a second day on Sunday in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates; Bahrain's capital, Manama; and Qatar's capital, Doha, raising fears of a prolonged conflict.
Iran has attacked Dubai airport, among the busiest airports globally, which has been shut for operations after hostilities began. Earlier, it had struck the Palm, Dubai's famed land island, and a luxury hotel, Burj Al Arab.
Smoke and flames rising from Dubai's landmark The Palm archipelago, as Iran carried out retaliatory strikes in the Gulf following US and Israeli attacks
Photo Credit: AFP
Iran's Air Force has bombed US bases in the Persian Gulf countries and Iraq's Kurdistan.
How US-Israel Attacked Iran
The US-Israel strikes came two days after the latest US-Iran talks as Trump pressured Tehran for a deal to constrain its nuclear programme, building up a fleet of warships in the region. Iran's theocracy also has struggled with growing dissent following nationwide protests that began over the economy but turned into anti-government ones.
Read | Saudi Prince Lobbied Trump To Strike Iran, Called Him Multiple Times Privately
Israel said it had worked with the US for months to plan the attacks. The US military said targets in Iran included Revolutionary Guard command facilities, air defence capabilities, missile and drone launch sites, and military airfields.
