Dubai gov't says explosions heard in city are 'false,' despite witness reports

Reports of explosions in downtown Dubai on Thursday were met with swift denial from the Dubai government's media office. Witnesses had told Reuters that blasts were heard in the city, but the "GDMO" (Government of Dubai Media Office) issued a statement calling the report "false." The office urged the public and media to rely solely on official sources for accurate information and to avoid spreading rumors.

Simultaneously, Iranian state media and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) made separate claims of explosions and strikes. The IRGC claimed explosions shook the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi, while the Fars News Agency reported that US missiles hit locations near Bandar Abbas, a key port city close to the Strait of Hormuz, and near Qeshm Island. Official Iranian broadcasters, including IRIB, published these claims.

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GDMO urges the public and media to rely only on official sources for accurate information and to avoid spreading rumors or unverified information.

Further escalating the situation, Iranian state media reported that Iranian air defense systems shot down a US Air Force MQ-9A Reaper drone over Khuzestan Province early Thursday. The US military has not confirmed this claim. An Iranian military spokesperson also issued a threat towards Middle Eastern countries hosting US military bases, stating that "Security imported from the US will not last for countries in the region."

Amidst these conflicting reports and claims, US Central Command (CENTCOM) shared a video on its X/Twitter account showing a US Air Force F-35A stealth fighter undergoing mid-air refueling during patrols over the Middle East. CENTCOM did not specify if the aircraft was involved in operations related to Iran. This situation remains a developing story with unverified claims from multiple sources.

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Security imported from the US will not last for countries in the region.