Dubai, UAE – Video filmed by X user Aerotects captured dramatic footage from the Sheraton Dubai Creek Hotel & Towers around 10:58 p.m. local time on March 3, 2026, showing a drone exploding near the U.S. Consulate amid Iran’s retaliatory strikes against U.S. targets in the region following Operation Epic Fury.

The clip opens on a nighttime skyline overlooking Deira Creek, with city lights reflecting on the water and high-rises glowing in the distance. Suddenly, a bright orange fireball erupts in mid-air near the U.S. Consulate, sending flames and debris cascading downward. Secondary explosions strike the ground, lighting up the surrounding area with vivid flashes. Thick black smoke rises from the impact site, drifting across the creek and obscuring nearby buildings, while the blast’s shockwave ripples visibly through the air.

Filmed from a hotel balcony, the camera pans shakily as fire spreads across the rooftop or upper levels of the consulate. Embers rain down and distant sirens wail, transforming the once-peaceful waterfront into a chaotic scene. The explosion casts an eerie orange glow over the creek and boats below.

The video lingers on the burning site as smoke continues to rise and flames subside slightly, offering a stark view of the escalating U.S.-Iran conflict. Iranian drones and missiles were reported to have targeted U.S. diplomatic sites across the Gulf during this wave of strikes.

The drone strike caused structural damage to the U.S. Consulate in Deira, Dubai, but no casualties were reported. The attack formed part of broader retaliatory actions against U.S. interests in the UAE, Iraq, and other regional locations.

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