A major energy hub in the United Arab Emirates was disrupted on Saturday after a drone attack triggered a fire, as Iran warned it could retaliate following recent US strikes on its key oil facilities.

Television footage showed thick plumes of dark smoke rising from the affected area in the emirate of Fujairah, one of the region’s most important oil storage and bunkering hubs. Industry sources said some oil-loading operations were suspended at the port as authorities assessed the situation.

The developments come amid escalating tensions in the Middle East as the war between the United States and Iran entered its third week.

Iran issued a strong warning that parts of the UAE could become legitimate targets if attacks on its infrastructure continue. An Iranian military spokesperson urged civilians in the UAE to evacuate areas around ports, docks, and locations described as “American hideouts,” claiming that US forces had launched operations against Iranian positions from those areas.

The warning followed US strikes on Iran’s main oil hub at Kharg Island, a critical facility responsible for a large portion of the country’s crude exports.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump said that several countries could soon send naval forces to the region to ensure shipping lanes remain open.

Posting on social media, Trump said “many countries” would deploy warships to protect maritime traffic moving through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20 percent of the world’s fossil fuel supplies pass.

Trump suggested that nations including China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain could join efforts to maintain safe passage for commercial vessels. He also warned that the United States would intensify military operations along Iran’s coastline if threats to shipping continue.

The conflict, which began on February 28, has already caused widespread disruption to global energy markets. Maritime traffic through the Gulf region has slowed significantly, and oil prices have surged as fears grow about potential supply shortages.

According to estimates, the war has resulted in more than 2,000 deaths so far, with the majority reported in Iran.

Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has maintained that the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed as a strategic tool to pressure Western powers.

Energy analysts warn that any prolonged disruption to shipping routes in the region could have major consequences for global oil supply and economic stability.