Drone interception led to falling debris, halting play at the Fujairah Challenger event on the UAE’s Gulf coast.
The ATP Challenger tennis tournament in the United Arab Emirates was disrupted following a “security alert” involving Iranian attacks on targets in the Gulf region in response to attacks by the United States and Israel.
Debris from a drone interception on Tuesday caused a fire at an oil field about 15 kilometres (nine miles) from the tournament venue on the men’s second-tier global circuit.
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Play at the Fujairah Challenger event in Fujairah, a city on the UAE’s eastern Gulf coast, was suspended in line with established safety protocols before being cancelled for the remainder of the day.
“After consultation with local authorities and security advisors, play has been cancelled for the remainder of the day as a precaution,” the ATP said in a statement.
A video on social media showed two players, Belarusian Daniil Ostapenkov and Japan’s Hayato Matsuoka, struggling for shelter after the public announcement.
“I have finished my match in Fujairah in the second round, but the game is suspended for today,” Ukrainian player Vladislav Orlov said on Instagram. “When I was playing, I heard the sound of jet planes flying here and there. And there’s smoke here next to the mountain, so it’s not very safe here right now.”
Iran has launched missiles and drones at several countries in the Middle East in response to the US-Israeli attacks, which have killed at least 787 people across Iran since Saturday, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society.
Iranian attacks have increasingly targeted oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf, raising concerns of disruption to global energy markets.
They have also drawn condemnation from countries in the region, including the United Arab Emirates, which on Tuesday described Iran’s firing as a “gross aggression and serious violation of national sovereignty and international law.”
According to the country’s Defence Ministry, the UAE has intercepted 186 Iranian missiles since February 28, when US-Israeli attacks on Iran began. statement.
“Of these, 172 missiles were destroyed, 13 fell into the sea and one missile fell on the country’s territory,” the ministry said.
The ministry said 755 Iranian drones were intercepted, while 57 fell on UAE territory.
At least three people have so far been killed in the UAE as a result of the attacks, while 68 others have suffered minor injuries, the ministry said.
“The ministry… reaffirmed that the UAE reserves the full right to respond to this escalation and take all necessary measures to protect its territory, citizens, and residents, thereby safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and stability, as well as its national interests and capabilities.”
