Drone strikes residential tower in Dubai; no injuries reported

A suspected Iranian drone struck a large residential tower in Dubai, causing a fire that forced an evacuation, according to officials. No injuries were reported.

The incident happened Wednesday when a drone “fell” on a building in the Dubai Creek Harbour area, according to the Dubai Media Office. Authorities said the tower was evacuated.

Following the drone strike, images shared on social media showed part of a floor burning several stories up the tower, with visible structural damage.

The building was reported to be Address Creek Harbour 2, part of the Address Grand Creek Harbour development by Emaar Properties. Construction began in June 2017 and was completed in April 2023.

The strike was part of continuing Iranian missile and drone attacks across Arab countries following the ongoing U.S.-Israeli military operation against Iran, which killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

In an update on Wednesday, the UAE Ministry of Defense said the country’s air defenses had engaged 268 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,514 UAVs since the start of what it described as Iranian aggression.

The ministry said the attacks had killed 6 people, including Emirati, Pakistani, Nepali and Bangladeshi nationals, and injured 131 others.