A father who filmed missiles flying over his family’s home in Dubai has shared the terror his young child experienced during Iran’s assault.
Vishnu Manchu, an actor and film producer from India, was visiting his family in Dubai with his young daughter Ayra when missiles began flying over their home.
“In Dubai visiting family tonight. Missiles visible in the sky. The loud interceptions shook our home and frightened little Ayra,” he wrote on X.
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“Praying for peace. No child anywhere should grow up hearing the sound of war above their roof.”
Mr Manchu posted video footage of the missiles, and said he was grateful for the UAE defence forces for “keeping civilians safe”.
He also said the terrifying experience served as a reminder of “how fragile life really is”.
Mr Manchu’s recount is just one amongst a sea of terrifying stories circulating social media as families across the Middle East grapple with the recent conflict.
The US-Israel attack on Iran has been met with retaliation across the region, with missiles and drones primarily targeting military bases.
On Sunday, strikes were contained to the Middle East, but on Monday reports indicated a United Kingdom base in Cyprus had been attacked by drones.
When US president Donald Trump announced the beginning of the military campaign he dubbed “Operation Epic Fury”, he attributed its purpose to preventing Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, amongst weakening the country’s general offensive capabilities.
The strikes began without a media address or a public briefing to US Congress. Mr Trump instead posted an eight-minute video to Truth Social in which he told Iranians, who have been living under a regime of state-sponsored terror for decades, that the “hour of (their) freedom” was at hand.
At the time of writing, 13 countries have been engulfed in the conflict, including Cyprus after a UK RAF base was struck.
Arka Datta, an Indian man living in Dubai, shared his chilling experience of the retaliation on X.
“Many people thought Dubai is a safe heaven. Including me. Today, few hours ago USA attacked Iran. Iran had promised to give back by attacking the US bases in Saudi, UAE and other gulf regions,” he wrote.
“And it happened. 10kms away from my home in Dubai there were explosions heard. No cabs. Airspace closed. Let’s wait and watch what happens next. Stay safe comrades!”
