An ATP Challenger tennis tournament in the United Arab Emirates was interrupted after a “security alert” linked to Iranian strikes on targets in the Gulf region, launched in response to attacks by the United States and Israel.
Falling debris from the interception of a drone on Tuesday caused a fire in an oilfield located about 15km (nine miles) from the site of the tournament on the men’s second-tier global circuit.
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Play in the Fujairah Challenger event in Fujairah, a city on the UAE’s eastern Gulf coast, was suspended in line with established security protocols, before being cancelled for the remainder of the day.
“Following consultation with local authorities and security advisors, play has been cancelled for the remainder of the day as a precautionary measure,” the ATP said in a statement.
A video on social media showed two players, Belarusian Daniil Ostapenkov and Japan’s Hayato Matsuoka, scrambling for shelter after a public announcement.
“I just finished my match in Fujairah, second round, but the play is suspended for today,” Ukrainian player Vladyslav Orlov said on Instagram. “When I was playing, I heard the sound of the jets flying here and there. And there is smoke here, next to the mountain, so not very safe here right now.”
Iran has launched missiles and drones at several countries around the Middle East in response to US-Israeli attacks that have killed at least 787 people across Iran since Saturday, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society.
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The Iranian attacks have increasingly targeted oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf, prompting concerns about disruptions to global energy markets.
They also have spurred condemnation from countries in the region, including the UAE, which on Tuesday described the firings from Iran as “blatant aggression and a grave violation of national sovereignty and international law”.
The UAE intercepted 186 Iranian missiles since February 28 when the US-Israeli attacks on Iran started, according to the country’s Defence Ministry statement.
“Of these, 172 missiles were destroyed, 13 fell into the sea, and one missile landed on the country’s territory,” the ministry said, adding that 755 Iranian drones were intercepted while 57 fell within UAE territory.
At least three people have been killed in the UAE due to the attacks so far while 68 others suffered minor injuries, the ministry said.
“The Ministry … affirmed that the UAE reserves its full right to respond to this escalation and to take all necessary measures to protect its territory, citizens and residents, in a manner that safeguards its sovereignty, security and stability, and protects its national interests and capabilities.”
