DUBAI: A drone struck a parking lot adjacent to the US consulate in Dubai on Tuesday night, as Washington shut several embassies across the Middle East and urged Americans to leave the region amid escalating Iranian retaliation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said all US personnel in Dubai were accounted for after the “drone struck” near the consulate.
Dubai authorities said a fire resulting from a “drone-related incident” had been contained and no injuries were reported.
Smoke was seen rising from an area near the consulate, two witnesses told Reuters. Video shared on social media and cited by Al Jazeera showed black smoke billowing close to the compound.
Flames and black smoke were seen rising from the US Consulate in Dubai after a suspected attack amid Iranian retaliation for US-Israeli strikes. pic.twitter.com/gMc2eBa0sJ
— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) March 3, 2026
The Dubai Media Office said emergency teams responded immediately and later confirmed the blaze had been fully extinguished.
Dubai authorities have confirmed that a fire resulting from a drone-related incident near the US Consulate has been successfully contained. Emergency teams responded immediately. No injuries have been reported.
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) March 3, 2026
Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB reported that an Iranian drone had hit the US consulate.
A US official and Dubai’s government media office told the Wall Street Journal that a drone had struck the consulate’s parking area.
The incident came as Iran continued to target US interests across the Middle East following joint US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
US shuts embassies, urges Americans to leave
The United States shut its embassies in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Beirut amid the drone attacks, NBC News reported on Tuesday night.
The US embassy in Kuwait said it would be “closed until further notice”, Al Jazeera reported.
The US embassy in Iraq urged Americans to depart “as soon as possible” and advised against travel to the country “for any reason”, Al Jazeera reported.
The embassy warned that Iraqi authorities could close and reopen airspace at short notice.
Earlier, the US embassy in Saudi Arabia’s capital Riyadh was struck by two drones on Monday, causing a limited fire and minor material damage, the Saudi defence ministry said. No casualties were reported.
The embassy urged Americans in Jeddah, Riyadh and Dhahran to shelter in place.
Washington also ordered non-emergency personnel in six Gulf states to leave and told Americans in the region to “DEPART NOW!”
Rubio said about 9,000 Americans had left the Middle East since the start of US-Israeli strikes on Iran.
Around 1,600 citizens were currently requesting assistance, he added.
The State Department said it had arranged charter flights from Jordan, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and would continue to secure additional capacity as security conditions allowed. More than 300 Americans had departed Israel, it said.
A US official said the department was in direct contact with nearly 3,000 American nationals abroad.
Yes, the State Department is actively securing military aircraft and charter flights for American citizens who wish to leave the Middle East.
We've been in direct contact with nearly 3,000 Americans abroad. American citizens should call 1-202-501-4444 for assistance with… https://t.co/Fj9qcvljoC
— Dylan Johnson (@ASDylanJohnson) March 3, 2026
In Israel, officials were assisting about 500 citizens seeking to leave. More than 130 had already departed and another 100 were expected to leave later in the day.
Missile and drone fire across region
Qatar’s defence ministry said Iran launched two ballistic missiles towards its territory.
One targeted the US-run Al Udeid air base, while the other was intercepted. No casualties were reported.
“Our armed forces possess full capabilities to protect and preserve the sovereignty of the state,” the ministry said.
— وزارة الدفاع – دولة قطر (@MOD_Qatar) March 3, 2026
In Iraq, a small drone was shot down near Baghdad International Airport, according to the Iraqi government’s security media cell.
There were no casualties or material damage. The airport complex includes a military base hosting American advisers.
Associated Press reported explosions and smoke rising over Irbil in northern Iraq after drones and missiles were intercepted.
Debris caused fires and property damage, but there were no reports of casualties, according to AP.
Bahrain’s military said it had destroyed 74 missiles and 92 drones since Saturday. It described the attacks as a “flagrant violation of international humanitarian law”.
The United Arab Emirates said it had been exposed to more than 1,000 attacks since Iran began retaliatory strikes.
The foreign ministry said the UAE had not changed its defensive posture and reserved the right to defend itself.
It also said it had not participated in the US-Israeli war on Iran or allowed its territory to be used in attacks.
The UAE extended remote learning nationwide until Friday, March 6, for students and staff in public and private schools and universities.
وزارة التربية والتعليم ووزارة التعليم العالي والبحث العلمي تعلنان عن استمرار تحويل الدراسة إلى نظام التعلم عن بعد حتى يوم الجمعة الموافق 6 مارس 2026 وذلك للطلبة والكادر التربوي والإداري في جميع المدارس الحكومية والخاصة والجامعات على مستوى الدولة. pic.twitter.com/wUdizu9ZFg
— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) March 3, 2026
Jordan reported sirens sounding for a third time in the port city of Aqaba, hours after reopening its airspace to civilian traffic.
Tehran signals prolonged conflict
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they had launched a new wave of missiles and drones against Israel as part of “Operation True Promise 4”.
Israel said it carried out air strikes on Iranian missile launchers and a nuclear research site on Tuesday.
Iran’s defence ministry said it was ready for a long war and had not yet deployed its most advanced weapons.
“We have the capacity to resist and to continue an offensive defence longer than what the enemy has planned,” ministry spokesman Reza Talaei-Nik told the official IRNA news agency.
Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan described Iran’s retaliatory strikes on Gulf states as an “incredibly wrong strategy” in an interview with state broadcaster TRT Haber.
US President Donald Trump said the conflict could last weeks and that wars could be fought “forever” with America’s stock of munitions.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth said the campaign would not be “endless”.
A source familiar with the operation told NBC News that US military operations would unfold in phases.
Meanwhile, Qatar called on its citizens abroad to register with the foreign ministry, while the UAE announced plans to repatriate more than 44,000 travellers in phases.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Qatar calls on Qatari citizens who are outside the country to register their information in the Ministry’s application
Doha – March 3, 2026
In light of the current circumstances, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs calls on Qatari citizens who are… pic.twitter.com/UiL8qX2BoT
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) March 3, 2026
