Rubio: All US personnel safe after drone strike near Dubai consulate

2026-03-03 - 21:42

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed Tuesday that all American personnel were safe after a drone strike hit a parking lot adjacent to the US Consulate in Dubai, causing a fire at the facility. Briefing reporters before meeting congressional leaders, Rubio stated that the attack occurred shortly before his remarks and that authorities had confirmed "all personnel are accounted for." Diplomatic Facilities Under Threat Rubio characterized the incident as part of broader targeting of US diplomatic facilities in the region, stating they are under "direct attack from a terroristic regime." He noted that the State Department had begun drawing down personnel from diplomatic facilities in anticipation of such attacks, reflecting heightened security concerns across the Middle East following Saturday's US-Israeli offensive against Iran. Regional Conflict Context The drone strike represents the latest in a series of Iranian retaliatory actions targeting US-linked sites in Gulf countries since the joint military campaign began. Saturday's attacks killed nearly 800 people, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and senior military officials, triggering waves of Iranian drone and missile strikes against Israel and Gulf states hosting American assets. The expanding conflict has drawn in multiple regional actors and threatens to further destabilize the strategically vital Gulf region.