An attempted airstrike targeted the area near the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) in downtown Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The Dubai government said air defenses intercepted the attack, but debris struck the exterior of a downtown building during the interception. Authorities reported no injuries.
On March 13 local time, the Dubai Government Media Office said the interception was successful, but debris from the strike caused a minor incident when it hit the exterior of a downtown building. The office said there were no casualties.
Officials did not disclose whether the intercepted object was a missile or a drone. Witnesses reported hearing two loud explosions that morning and seeing black smoke rise into the sky.
The debris fell near the DIFC, one of the Middle East's leading financial hubs. As a result, several firms in the area—including Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and Citigroup—shifted to remote work. A number of South Korean financial firms also maintain offices in the DIFC.
The day before, fragments from a shot-down drone fell onto the exterior of a high-rise near downtown Dubai, causing some damage.
Before the recent fighting, the UAE and Iran maintained largely pragmatic ties based on economic interests. But Iran has increasingly focused strikes on the UAE in the Gulf, saying it is responding to attacks on U.S. military bases in the region.
