Daring Drone Attack Sparks Blaze at Dubai Airport
A drone strike triggers a fire near Dubai's main airport, raising concerns over security and the growing threat of unmanned aerial threats.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates - Chaos erupted at one of the world's busiest airports as a drone attack ignited a fuel storage tank near Dubai International Airport. Footage from the scene shows a large plume of smoke billowing from the targeted area, just a few miles from the airport's main terminals.
According to authorities in the United Arab Emirates, the incident was the result of a drone that infiltrated the airspace and struck a fuel depot, causing the dramatic blaze. While no casualties have been reported, the attack has raised alarms over the growing threat of unmanned aerial vehicles in sensitive locations.
"This was a deliberate attack on one of our critical infrastructure sites," said Maj. Gen. Faris Al Mazrouei, commander-in-chief of the UAE's armed forces. "We take these threats extremely seriously and will respond accordingly to protect our people and our assets."
The attack comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with the UAE and other Gulf states on high alert for potential strikes from Iran-backed militias or drones. In recent years, there has been a surge in drone-related incidents targeting airports, oil facilities, and other strategic locations across the Middle East.
"Drones have become a serious security threat, not just in conflict zones but in densely populated urban areas as well," said Faisal Al Bannai, CEO of EDGE Group, a leading Emirati defense technology company. "As technology advances, the potential for these unmanned systems to cause damage and disruption has grown exponentially."
The incident at Dubai Airport is the latest in a series of drone attacks that have targeted critical infrastructure in the region. In January 2022, a similar strike on an oil facility in Abu Dhabi killed three people and sparked a fire. Authorities in the UAE have vowed to bolster their defenses against such threats, but the challenge remains formidable.
"This is a wake-up call for everyone," said Maj. Gen. Al Mazrouei. "We must work together, regionally and globally, to develop new technologies and strategies to protect our skies and our critical infrastructure from these emerging dangers."
Source: Al Jazeera
