Loud explosions in Dubai airport were reported by Reuters witnesses on March 1, 2026, as Iran launched retaliatory missile and drone attacks across the Gulf in response to the U.S.-Israeli strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Iran’s strikes, part of the “Truthful Promise” campaign, targeted U.S. bases and allies in the region following the February 28 joint U.S.-Israeli strikes (Operation Epic Fury) that eliminated Khamenei at his Tehran compound. Iranian state media confirmed the supreme leader’s death, vowing fierce revenge amid 40 days of mourning.