Explosions were heard in the UAE capital Abu Dhabi on February 28 after Iran launched retaliatory missiles against targets in the Persian Gulf, with preliminary reports the Al Dhafra air base was targeted, according to bnm Gulf bureau.

Residents in the Emirati capital have been forced to leave their properties and head to basements.

Residents of Abu Dhabi reported the sounds of explosions shortly after Iran fired missiles in response to the joint US-Israeli strikes on Tehran earlier in the day.

According to visuals, at least two Iranian missiles were intercepted above Abu Dhabi; however, IntelliNews cannot confirm this. 

The UAE authorities announced a partial and temporary closure of their airspace. Iraq, Syria, Qatar and other states in the region also closed their airspace as the conflict spread across the Middle East.

Al Jazeera cited sources saying Qatar had intercepted at least one Iranian missile. Israel remains the only country to have officially confirmed interceptions of Iranian rockets so far.

The reported targeting of Al Dhafra, which hosts US military aircraft and personnel, would represent a further escalation beyond the earlier reported strikes on the US Fifth Fleet headquarters in Bahrain's Juffair district, where social media reports cited explosions near the naval base, though no official confirmation had been issued at the time of publication.

Iran's IRGC earlier declared a large-scale retaliatory operation was underway, warning that Israel had "miscalculated" and that Tehran's response would be "strong and decisive."

Iran's internet connectivity has collapsed to 4% of normal levels, its airspace remains closed and the rial has hit a record low of IRR1,749,500 against the dollar on the free market.

This story is developing. Details remain unverified and subject to change.