'Legitimate targets' | Iran asks people to leave port areas in UAE

Smoke was seen rising from the direction of Fujairah's energy installations today as Iran warned residents of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to immediately evacuate areas around three of the country's major ports. The warning came hours after the US bombed Iran's Kharg Island oil hub. Iran's news agency Tasnim asked people to move away from Jebel Ali port in Dubai, Khalifa port in Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah port. "These areas have become legitimate targets due to the presence and concealment of US military forces among civilian installations and will be targeted in the coming hours," the agency said.

The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) followed with a direct warning to the UAE's leadership. IRGC spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari said Iran viewed it as its "legitimate right" to strike ports and docks being used by US forces "under the cover of Emirati cities." The IRGC also said ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz, despite warnings from US President Donald Trump, would be targeted. UAE authorities said debris from a successfully intercepted drone had caused a fire, without specifying a location. The dark clouds of smoke seen from Fujairah were consistent with the port area, which houses a major oil storage and trading hub as well as a key export terminal. Drone strikes had already hit the UAE's Fujairah energy installations earlier this month.