At least seven explosions rocked the southern port area and Jebel Ali industrial area of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in the space of just 20 minutes early on Wednesday.
Thick black smoke billowed into the sky after the explosions, according to videos posted on social media.
Iran’s state news agency Mehr quoted Emirati officials as saying the explosions occurred in a series of short bursts. However, UAE authorities have not yet given an official explanation for the cause of the explosions.
The report also said that two people were arrested for allegedly filming the scene, although there has been no official statement from the Emirates on this matter.
Meanwhile, some Iraqi media outlets have claimed that a missile attack has been launched from Yemen towards the United Arab Emirates amid the ongoing US-Iran conflict. However, this claim could not be independently verified, and no Emirati official or mainstream media outlets have confirmed the attack.
According to the report, NASA thermal satellite imagery indicated the presence of a fire at a fuel storage and transfer warehouse next to Jebel Ali Port.
No official information has been released about casualties or damage from the explosion so far, but thick black smoke seen billowing from near residential areas has spread concern among locals.
It is worth noting that the United Arab Emirates has long been on high alert in the context of the US-Iran conflict. As a close ally of the US, the country has been mentioned in various analyses as a potential target for retaliatory attacks.