March 8, 2026: 23 Marina constructing broken by drone Particles in Dubai’s Marina
Emma Graham, CNBC
Gulf states reported extra injury to infrastructure over the weekend as Iran continues to assault regional allies in retaliation for ongoing strikes by U.S. and Israeli forces.
In the meantime, Iranian media stated a brand new chief has been appointed, changing Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed within the opening salvos of the conflict.
The United Arab Emirates stated it was “coping with incoming missile and drone threats from Iran.”
“UAE air defences are at the moment responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran,” the nation’s Ministry of Protection stated in a put up on X.
It stated its defenses had been intercepting ballistic missiles whereas fighter jets had been tackling drones and “loitering munitions.”
On Saturday night, alarms rang out throughout Dubai and Abu Dhabi, warning residents to “instantly search a protected place” as a result of missile threats, and CNBC’s staff confirmed listening to a loud explosion.
A high-rise constructing in Dubai’s Marina space, 23 Marina, was hit by falling particles. In accordance to Dubai’s Media Workplace, nobody was injured, however authorities confirmed that “particles from an aerial interception fell onto a automobile within the Al Barsha space, ensuing within the demise of a Pakistani driver.”
Additionally on Saturday, passengers ready for flights at Dubai Worldwide Airport had been ushered into prepare tunnels. Iran stated it had struck an air base within the United Arab Emirates.
For the reason that conflict began on Feb. 28, Iran has focused a number of radar and air defenses within the Center East — in Qatar, the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia — in retaliation towards U.S. and Israeli assaults, The Wall Road Journal reported, citing U.S. officers, army analysts and commercially out there satellite tv for pc pictures.
Bahrain stated Sunday {that a} drone assault struck a water desalination plant.
“Iranian aggression indiscriminately attacked civilian targets and brought about materials injury to a water desalination plant following a drone assault,” Bahrain’s Ministry of Inside stated in a put up on X.
In a press release to CNBC, Bahrain’s electrical energy and water authority stated the “Iranian assault on a water desalination facility has had no influence on water provides or water community capability.”
The nation additionally stated “blatant Iranian aggression” broken a college constructing within the Muharraq space, injuring three folks, as missile fragments fell.
Elsewhere, Kuwait stated two gasoline depots at its worldwide airport had been hit by drones, inflicting a “large hearth at considered one of them.” The nation’s Public Establishment for Social Safety stated its headquarters had been focused, leading to “materials injury” to the constructing.
In the meantime, Israeli and U.S. assaults on Iran have continued by the weekend.
Israel stated it struck a number of gasoline storage complexes belonging to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps. “The strike considerably deepens the injury to the army infrastructure of the Iranian terrorist regime,” the Israel Protection Forces stated in a put up on X.
The IDF additionally stated it attacked “key commanders within the IRGC’s Quds Power’s Lebanon Corps who operated in Beirut.”
New Iranian chief appointed
Iran’s Mehr information company quoted Ayatollah Seyyed Ahmad Alam al-Huda as saying Sunday elections have been held to exchange Khamenei and {that a} new chief has been appointed. It didn’t give a reputation.
“All of the rumors and information that attempted to fake that the Meeting of Consultants has not but decided are pure lies,” al-Huda was quoted as saying.
Iranian state media reported on Saturday that two influential Iranian clerics have referred to as for the swift choice of a brand new supreme chief
One of many clerics, Naser Makarem Shirazi, a grand ayatollah who instructions a broad following for his spiritual rulings, stated an appointment was wanted swiftly to “assist higher arrange the nation’s affairs,” state media reported.
The calls recommend that no less than some within the clerical institution are uncomfortable with leaving a three-man council in cost — even briefly below constitutional guidelines — after the killing of Supreme Chief Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
The Israel Protection Forces stated Sunday it could “pursue each successor and each one that seeks to nominate a successor.”
“We warn all those that intend to take part within the successor choice assembly that we are going to not hesitate to focus on you both. It is a warning!” the IDF stated in a put up in Farsi on X.
Trump has argued the U.S. ought to have a job in selecting the brand new chief, a requirement Iran has rejected.
