An Instagram influencer faced criticism for sharing a video expressing fear during the recent events in Dubai following Iranian retaliatory strikes. Louise Starkey, originally from Australia but residing in Dubai, posted a video hinting that conflicts should be confined to less privileged areas. She captured the footage from a hotel balcony after Iran responded to attacks from the US and Israel over the weekend.

Dubai, along with other regions like Abu Dhabi and Qatar, experienced the impact of the strikes. A fire broke out at the luxury Fairmont The Palm hotel in Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah area due to debris from a missile interception. The iconic Burj Al Arab also sustained damage, while a terminal at the busy international airport was hit.

The ongoing unrest has left hundreds of thousands of expatriates and tourists, including approximately 240,000 British citizens, stranded as airspace and airports remain closed. Despite the situation, Starkey shared a video of herself on a balcony expressing her anxiety about the chaos in Dubai.

In the widely-viewed video, she expressed her fear and disbelief at the events unfolding, emphasizing that such incidents were unexpected in Dubai. Starkey mentioned hearing loud explosions throughout the day and witnessing the aftermath firsthand.

She conveyed her disappointment that Dubai, known as a safe haven, was subjected to such violence, urging for an end to the hostilities. While Starkey has since removed the video, viewers expressed mixed reactions in the comments section, with some criticizing her perceived insensitivity.

The US and Israel’s strikes on Tehran resulted in the death of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, along with several high-ranking officials and Khamenei’s family members.