A fire broke out near a major energy installation in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, sending thick black smoke into the sky just hours after the United States carried out air strikes on Iran’s key oil hub, according to NDTV.
Videos circulating online showed dark clouds of smoke rising above the coastal city of Fujairah, home to one of the region’s most important oil export terminals. The port plays a vital role in global energy trade and is a major storage and shipping point for crude oil moving through the Gulf.
Local authorities said the fire was caused by falling debris after air defenses intercepted a drone in the area. In a brief statement posted online, officials said fragments from the destroyed drone sparked a fire but did not give further details about the exact location of the incident.
The UAE Ministry of Defence confirmed that its air defense systems were responding to incoming Iranian ballistic and cruise missiles as well as drones targeting the country.
The incident came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that American forces had bombed targets on Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal. The island handles almost all of Iran’s crude oil exports and is considered a critical part of the country’s energy infrastructure.
Trump warned that Iran’s oil facilities could face further strikes if tensions continue to escalate.
Energy sites across the Gulf have increasingly become targets since the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran began on February 28. Earlier attacks reportedly hit oil depots in Tehran, while Iran responded by targeting energy facilities across the Gulf region.
Major installations affected during the conflict include the Ras Tanura Refinery in Saudi Arabia, the Ras Laffan Industrial City gas processing hub in Qatar, and the Ruwais Refinery complex in the United Arab Emirates.
The war has also disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime routes. Before the conflict began, about 20 percent of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments passed through this narrow waterway.
Iran has effectively halted traffic through parts of the strait, raising concerns about global energy supplies and increasing volatility in oil markets as the conflict shows little sign of easing.
