(Image source from: 1news.az)

Dubai International Airport briefly stopped operations on Wednesday after drones crashed at the facility, leading to four injuries at the busiest international airport in the world. The leading police official in Iran warned that protesters will be viewed as enemies if they support those opposing Tehran, as reported by news agency AFP. "If anyone acts according to the desires of the enemy, we will no longer consider them just a protester, but rather an enemy," stated national police chief Ahmad-Reza Radan, in remarks broadcasted by state broadcaster IRIB. A tanker became the third ship to be hit by a projectile near the Strait of Hormuz today. The ship claimed it was struck by an "unknown projectile" about 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO), which oversees regional maritime matters. Officials confirmed that the crew aboard the vessel is safe and that there are no environmental concerns.

Earlier, a cargo ship was engulfed in flames and evacuated after being hit around 11 nautical miles north of Oman’s Musandam Peninsula. Another cargo ship near the UAE coast also reported damage earlier the same day. Since the conflict began, the UKMTO has indicated that 13 vessels have faced attacks, emphasizing the increasing dangers to commercial shipping in the Gulf. An Indian citizen experienced moderate injuries while three others, two from Ghana and one from Bangladesh, had minor injuries after two drones crashed near Dubai International Airport, officials confirmed. The injuries occurred when the drones fell near the airport earlier in the day. Authorities also mentioned that airport operations remained unaffected by the incident. “Air traffic is functioning normally,” stated the Dubai Media Office.

In a separate incident, another commercial ship was hit by an unknown projectile off the UAE coast some time ago, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations. The UKMTO stated that the captain of a bulk carrier reported the vessel being struck, though no injuries were mentioned. “The captain of a bulk carrier has informed that their ship was struck by an unknown projectile. There are no reports of environmental harm. The crew is safe and well,” the agency conveyed in a statement. The UKMTO indicated that this event happened about 50 nautical miles northwest of Dubai. This marks the second recorded strike on a commercial vessel off the UAE's coast today, as tensions rise in the Gulf and the neighboring Strait of Hormuz.