DUBAI: Three fires erupted at a UAE petrochemical plant on Sunday after an air defense interception and a key Emirati port was also targeted by Iran.
The country, along with other Gulf nations, has faced waves of drone and missile attacks from Iran since the conflict started on February 28.
The fires broke out at the Borouge petrochemicals plant in Ruwais Industrial City on the UAE’s northwest coast after the site was hit by debris after an air defense interception, Abu Dhabi’s media office said.
“Operations at the facility have been immediately suspended while damage is assessed. No injuries have been reported,” it added after the UAE’s defense ministry earlier said it was responding to missile and drone attacks.
An update later in the day said damage was recorded at the site and is being assessed.
Authorities in the UAE’s Sharjah emirate said Sunday evening they were dealing with an incident at Khor Fakkan port in the Gulf of Oman.
The UK’s Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said the captain of a container ship reported seeing multiple splashes from unknown projectiles in close proximity to the ship at the port.
ADNOC Gas said on Sunday that domestic demand in the UAE was being met through its other facilities after its Habshan complex in Abu Dhabi was hit by debris from an intercepted attack on Friday.
The attack, which killed one Egyptian citizen, “caused damage to certain facilities” at the Habshan complex, ADNOC Gas said.
The attacks have been met with growing anger from UAE officials.
Presidential advisor Anwar Gargash said on Sunday that Israeli influence in the Gulf will increase as a result of Iran’s strategy in the region.
“The Iranian strategy will actually concretise the American role... It will not reduce it. We will also see Israeli influence become more prominent in the Gulf, not less,” Gargash said, in remarks released to the media on Sunday.
Tha advisor also confirmed the UAE was ready to “join any American-led effort, international effort to secure navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”
– AFP and Reuters
