DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — An evacuation alert was issued by Iran for three significant ports in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, marking a notable escalation in its ongoing conflict with the U.S. and Israel, which has now entered its third week. This warning specifically targets non-U.S. assets for the first time, signaling a shift in Iran's military posture.
Iran accused the U.S. of utilizing “ports, docks and hideouts” within the UAE to launch strikes against Kharg Island, a critical site for Iran’s oil exports, although no evidence was provided to substantiate this claim. The Iranian government urged residents to vacate areas believed to be sheltering U.S. forces.
Despite the evacuation warning, there were no immediate signs of an attack on Dubai’s Jebel Ali port, the busiest in the Middle East, or Abu Dhabi’s Khalifa port. However, images from Associated Press revealed a fire at Fujairah port, attributed to debris from an intercepted Iranian drone that struck an oil facility.
In an interview with MS NOW, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that U.S. forces had targeted Kharg Island and Abu Musa Island using low-range artillery from two locations in the UAE, including Ras Al-Khaimah and a site “very close to Dubai.” He characterized this as a dangerous situation, emphasizing Iran's intent to avoid civilian casualties.
Throughout the conflict, Iran has launched hundreds of missiles and drones at Gulf neighbors while claiming to focus on U.S. assets. Nonetheless, reports indicate that civilian targets such as airports and oil fields have also been affected.
On Friday, U.S. President Donald Trump announced that military sites on Kharg Island had been “obliterated,” warning that further strikes could target Iran’s oil infrastructure if Tehran continues to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital passage for global oil supplies.
Iran’s parliamentary speaker responded by stating that any attacks on its oil infrastructure would trigger severe retaliation.
As global concerns over oil prices mount, Trump expressed hopes that nations including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the U.K. would deploy warships to ensure the safety of the Strait of Hormuz. In response, Britain indicated it was exploring various options with allies to secure maritime routes.
Iran’s joint military command reiterated its threat to target U.S.-linked “oil, economic and energy infrastructures” in retaliation for any strikes against its own oil facilities.
According to Iran’s semiofficial Fars news agency, the strikes on Kharg Island did not damage oil infrastructure but instead targeted an air defense facility, a naval base, an airport control tower, and a helicopter hangar belonging to an offshore oil company.
U.S. Central Command reported the destruction of naval mine storage facilities and missile bunkers among other military sites during these operations.
Meanwhile, Israel has intensified its military campaign against Iranian infrastructure, claiming to have struck over 200 targets within 24 hours, including missile launchers and weapons production sites.
A U.S. official disclosed that an additional 2,500 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli are being deployed to the Middle East, contributing to a significant military buildup in the region. This deployment is not necessarily indicative of an impending ground operation.
The USS Tripoli was recently observed near Taiwan, indicating it may take over a week to reach Iranian waters.
Earlier this week, the Navy had stationed 12 ships in the Arabian Sea, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and eight destroyers. The total number of U.S. personnel currently in the Middle East remains unclear.
On Saturday, a missile struck a helipad within the U.S. Embassy compound in Baghdad; no group has claimed responsibility for this attack. The embassy has faced repeated assaults from Iran-aligned militias.
No immediate comment was available from the embassy regarding this incident. On Friday, it renewed its Level 4 security alert for Iraq due to ongoing threats from Iranian-backed groups targeting U.S. interests.
In Lebanon, the humanitarian crisis worsens as over 800 people have died and 850,000 have been displaced amid Israeli strikes against Hezbollah militants backed by Iran.
