"Can you imagine what it feels like for a Cuban to watch an anti-ballistic missile launch from your balcony in Dubai? This is a true story." With these words, Cuban doctor Alejandro Terry, who resides in the city, recounted his experience during a day when conflict erupted in one of the Middle East's most secure locations.
In a detailed account on his Facebook profile, Terry described how his day began like any other: an early breakfast, strong coffee, lunch featuring rice, beans, and chicken, followed by his commute to work where he manages a stretch studio.
The morning passed uneventfully, filled with clients and training new instructors, until a casual remark about potential regional disturbances hinted that something unusual was unfolding.
Mere moments later, he received a phone call urging him to return home immediately due to vibrations in the building and ongoing evacuations.
"I felt a strange sensation in my chest. It wasn't fear yet; it was confusion," he noted. On his way home, he observed unusual traffic patterns, hurried individuals, and an overall sense of alarm.
Upon reaching his residence, distant explosions became audible. From his balcony, he witnessed a THAAD interceptor missile ascending. "It's a fiery line surging skyward, luminous, fierce, swift. Like lightning in reverse," he described.
He recounted witnessing multiple launches, aerial explosions, and the trembling of walls as his phone issued official alerts instructing people to seek shelter indoors.
In a subsequent video, he stated that the situation created "a state of war" in the country, noting that he had never before witnessed missiles being intercepted in the air.
"I was a bit in shock," he admitted, although he assured viewers that he was alright and that authorities were responding effectively.
The Cuban emphasized that government communications were clear and that defense systems operated swiftly.
According to his account, American-made THAAD and Patriot missiles intercepted threats as the government urged calm.
"Dubai has never been attacked like this. Never," he stressed, highlighting that the city has no recent memory of such an experience.
His testimony comes after Iranian attacks targeted facilities in Dubai, including the Fairmont The Palm hotel in Palm Jumeirah, where an incident resulted in a fire and four injuries, and drone debris caused a minor blaze on the facade of the Burj Al Arab, according to official reports.
The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Defense confirmed intercepting 137 missiles and over 200 drones, labeling the action a "blatant violation of national sovereignty and international law." Iranian media claimed responsibility for the attacks on Dubai without specifying targets.
The regional escalation led to the death of Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, confirmed by Tehran after a joint military operation by the United States and Israel targeted strategic sites in Iran.
In retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced attacks on U.S. bases in the region and targets in Israel.
In this context, Operation Epic Fury has thus far resulted in the deaths of three U.S. soldiers and left five others severely injured, as confirmed by the U.S. Central Command.
President Donald Trump warned of responding with "unprecedented force" should Iran carry out further offensives against U.S. or Israeli interests.
While governments exchange threats and military statistics, Terry's narrative illustrates the human impact of the escalation: disrupted routines, the hasty preparation of a backpack with documents and passport, the sounds of explosions, and the sight of interceptor missiles streaking across the sky of a city previously seen as a peaceful oasis untouched by war.
Insights on the Iranian Missile Interception in Dubai
What did Alejandro Terry witness from his balcony in Dubai?
Alejandro Terry watched the launch of a THAAD interceptor missile from his balcony, observing it as it ascended to intercept incoming threats during regional tensions.
How did the situation in Dubai escalate according to Terry's account?
Terry described a sequence of events that included unusual traffic, hurried individuals, building vibrations, and official alerts, culminating in missile interceptions and distant explosions.
What was the response of the UAE government to the attacks?
The UAE Ministry of Defense intercepted 137 missiles and over 200 drones, labeling the attacks as violations of national sovereignty and international law.