Suspected Iranian drone hits Dubai Consulate as France deploys carrier to region

ALM Live

Al-Monitor Staff

Mar 3, 2026

Split screen television broadcast shows French President Emmanuel Macron delivering a national address at a desk with a sign language interpreter inset, alongside a france.tv map highlighting Iran and the shipping chokepoints Canal de Suez, Detroit de Bab el Mandeb and Detroit d Ormuz with the caption Passage de 20% du petrole et du gaz naturel liquefie mondial, Paris, Ile de France, France, March 3, 2026. Macron spoke to the French at 8 pm about the international situation as war in the Middle East raises — Split screen television broadcast shows French President Emmanuel Macron delivering a national address alongside a france.tv map highlighting Iran and the shipping chokepoints Canal de Suez, Detroit de Bab el Mandeb and Detroit d Ormuz in France, March 3, 2026. (Photo by Isabelle Souriment)

A suspected Iranian drone struck in the vicinity of the US Consulate in Dubai on Tuesday as the war continues to expand across the region. The Dubai Media Office said that a fire resulting from a "drone-related" incident had been contained.

The United States began facilitating charter flights to evacuate American citizens from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Jordan as the war with Iran escalates. As of Tuesday, Washington closed its embassies in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon and Kuwait.

The expansion of the war is also drawing in Europe. French President Emmanuel Macron ordered a French aircraft carrier to set course for the Mediterranean, along with the deployment of French Rafale fighter jets, air defense systems and radar assets. Also on Tuesday, the UK’s Defense Ministry said its F-35 fighter jets shot down unmanned aerial systems "in defense of Jordan."

Separately, in a call with Iranian officials on Tuesday, Pakistan’s foreign minister suggested that Pakistan, a nuclear power, could come to Saudi Arabia’s defense, as Iran continues to strike Gulf countries.

President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post that the US Navy would begin escorting oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz to ensure the free flow of energy supplies if necessary. The announcement came a day after Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that any vessel attempting to cross the strategic waterway would be targeted and set ablaze by Iranian forces.

Meanwhile, Israel launched a new wave of strikes against targets in Iran and Lebanon and expanded its presence in southern Lebanon, as Iran-backed Hezbollah continued cross-border attacks for a second day.

Some 787 people have been killed in Iran since US-Israeli strikes began on Saturday, according to the Iranian Red Crescent Society. The US military said six Americans have died in the conflict, while Israeli authorities reported at least 11 fatalities. In Lebanon, Israeli airstrikes have killed at least 52 people, according to the Lebanese government. A number of others have been killed in Jordan (5), the UAE (3), Kuwait (3), Iraq (2), Bahrain (1) and Oman (1).

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