Drone attack sparks fire by Dubai’s US consulate

DUBAI: A drone attack caused a fire by the US consulate in Dubai late on Tuesday as Iran ramped up its targeting of American diplomatic missions in the Gulf.

Residents told AFP they heard a bang and one said she then saw the blaze. Police cordoned off roads nearby and shooed away passersby trying to see the damage.

“Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained,” Dubai Media Office posted on X.

The US embassy in Riyadh was hit by two drones, setting off a small fire, in the early hours of Tuesday.

The US embassy in Kuwait was struck on Monday, diplomatic sources told AFP after smoke was seen pouring from the building.

The wealthy Gulf has been under Iranian bombardment since Saturday as part of the growing Middle East war, with airports and oil facilities among the targets hit.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed the drone strike in Dubai and said all staff were safe.

READ MORE: US embassy in Riyadh hit by drones, Saudi defence ministry says

“A drone unfortunately struck a parking lot adjacent to the chancellery building and then set off a fire in that place. All personnel are accounted for,” he told reporters in Washington.

Loud jet sounds could be heard on Tuesday over Dubai, the United Arab Emirates’ commercial hub whose skyline features the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building.

Despite suffering over 1,000 attacks – more than the combined total for the other targeted countries, according to the foreign ministry – the UAE said it had no plans to hit back against Iran.

“The United Arab Emirates reaffirms that it has not taken any decision to alter its defensive posture in response to the repeated Iranian attacks,” the foreign ministry statement said.

“The UAE reiterates that it is not a party to this war and has not permitted the use of its territory, territorial waters or airspace for any attack against Iran,” it added.