Daijiworld Media Network – Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi, May 5: Three Indian nationals were injured after Iran launched a fresh wave of missile and drone attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates, with one strike triggering a fire at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone on Monday.

The incident marks a sharp escalation in Middle East tensions, breaking a brief period of relative calm that followed a recent ceasefire between Washington and Tehran.

Emirati authorities said air defence systems intercepted multiple incoming threats. Of the four cruise missiles reportedly launched by Iran, three were successfully neutralised, while the fourth fell into the sea, according to the UAE defence ministry.

The Embassy of India in Abu Dhabi confirmed that three Indians sustained injuries in the attack. “We are in touch with local authorities to ensure proper medical care and welfare of the affected Indian nationals,” the embassy said in a post on X.

A drone strike sparked a fire at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone, a key hub for the UAE’s energy exports. Emergency teams were deployed to contain the blaze, while the injured were shifted to hospitals with moderate injuries.

Fujairah holds strategic importance as it enables the UAE to export oil through the Gulf of Oman, bypassing the Strait of Hormuz — one of the world’s most critical shipping routes.

The latest strikes disrupted a fragile lull after weeks of heightened conflict in the Gulf. Authorities said thousands of drones and missiles had been intercepted during the earlier phase of tensions. On Monday, residents in major cities including Dubai and Abu Dhabi received emergency alerts warning of potential missile threats.

Meanwhile, Iranian media reported that the country’s naval forces have expanded operations near the Strait of Hormuz, including waters close to UAE ports such as Fujairah and Khorfakkan.

In a strongly worded response, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the attacks as a “serious escalation” and a direct threat to national security. The ministry said the UAE reserves its “full and legitimate right” to respond.

With energy infrastructure and key maritime routes increasingly under threat, the latest developments have raised concerns over a wider regional escalation involving global powers.