Liverpool hero Graeme Souness has found himself stranded at Abu Dhabi Airport as Iranian strikes continue to target multiple Gulf states, reports BritPanorama.
Since Saturday morning, chaos has engulfed the region with the UAE cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi experiencing attacks alongside Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar, and Kuwait. Souness, who visited the UAE just three weeks earlier in his role as a Liverpool ambassador, was attempting to return to Britain when he became ensnared in the escalating conflict between Iran and the United States, which had launched a joint strike with Israel.
In his first video from the airport terminal, Souness documented his experience, showcasing his grounded aircraft while sharing advice from his mother. “My mum said to me – bear with me – when I was a little boy, ‘wherever you are, there’s never a dull moment,'” he recounted. The former Scotland captain had been looking forward to watching the Rangers-Celtic derby, describing it as the biggest match of the season for him.
As explosions echoed through the terminal, he explained to his followers, “We’re hearing some pretty loud bangs going off, and that is anti-missiles taking out missiles that are being fired at some American base.” His flight was ultimately cancelled, leaving him to navigate the uncertainty amidst persistent explosions.
Casualties have surfaced, with the luxury Palm Jumeirah Fairmont Hotel in Dubai hit by a high-speed Shahed drone, igniting a fire that injured four individuals. Witness accounts described ambulances racing to the scene, while strikes also targeted Kuwait International Airport, leading to damage in residential areas of Bahrain.
Thousands of British expats and tourists have been caught up in the deadly escalation, which quickly followed a joint daylight operation by the United States and Israel against Iran earlier that day. While acknowledging his frustration at being stranded, Souness remarked on the perspective of his plight, stating, “You get grumpy – well I do – when you get delayed and stuff at airports but I think we should think of people that maybe at this point might die.”
In light of the escalating situation, he indicated plans to seek hotel accommodations as he awaited calmer conditions. Meanwhile, BeIN Sport presenter Richard Keys also faced the fallout from the crisis, telling his followers, “It was a bit lively earlier. No show today.” This incident serves as a sobering reminder of how swiftly life can shift from casual travel to dire uncertainty.
