LIVERPOOL legend Graeme Souness has revealed he is trapped in Abu Dhabi amid the Iranian strikes.
The football icon shared the update via social media, saying he could hear terrifying “loud bangs” overhead.
Shocking footage has continued to emerge from the Gulf since Saturday morning, after Dubai and Abu Dhabi, alongside Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait were targeted.
Souness was last in the UAE three weeks ago and is now amongst the thousands of stranded holidaymakers and expats.
The 72-year-old Liverpool ambassador has been stuck at Abu Dhabi’s airport facing lengthy delays.
In a video post to his Instagram story, Souness said: “Currently in the Middle East, in Abu Dhabi Airport, I’ll give you a quick glimpse of where I am”.
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He pans the camera to the area around him, showing the plane on the tarmac.
“That is my plane that I am meant to be catching to go back to the UK,” he said.
“My mum said to me – bear with me – when I was a little boy, “wherever you are, there’s never a dull moment”.
“Well, I’m at this airport, and 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.”
In a second video, he said he had been fortunate in comparison to others caught in the crossfire between the United States and Israel, and the Islamic Republic.
Thousands of others remain at risk in the deadly attacks between Iran and the United States.
The US launched a joint attack with Israel on Iran on Saturday morning in a “major combat operation” announced by Donald Trump.
In retaliation, US airbases in the region have been targeted, as well as other civilian hotspots, including the Palm Jumeirah Fairmont Hotel in Dubai, Kuwait International Airport, and residential buildings in Bahrain.
People on the ground have captured the terrifying moment the five-star hotel was hit and set ablaze, with the front exterior of the building taken out by an ultrafast Shahed drone.
So far, at least four people have been reported injured in the attack according to Dubai’s media office.
Witnesses have reported seeing ambulances rushing to the scene.
Souness reported similar activity from the airport terminal, saying “Chaos continues”.
“The flight’s been cancelled, still hearing explosives, so we give up,” he said.
“We’re just going to check into a hotel for a couple of nights and see where we are.
“Hopefully, this will settle down and we’ll get back on our flight.”
Souness reminded his followers of the gravity of the situation.
“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,” he said.
“Anyway, I’ll keep you posted.”
Souness has not been the only person in the football orbit to be caught up in the panic, as BeIN Sport presenter Richard Keys was forced off air ahead of Premier League coverage on Saturday morning.
The former Sky Sports presenter has lived in the Gulf state since 2013.
He thanked followers on social media for checking in.
“Thank you all for your messages,” he posted.
“It was a bit lively earlier. I don’t have space to express my feelings about that idiot Trump. No show today.
“You’ll be in the capable hands of our colleagues in London. Thoughts & prayers for everyone in our region,” he added.
“Ramadan Kareem.”
The strikes have resulted in thousands of flight cancellations across the Middle East and Europe.
The aviation shutdowns have caused both the Iranian and Iraqi airspaces to shut down, as Iran’s leader Ali Khamenei has been announced dead.
The Ayatollah, 86, was wiped out despite fleeing Tehran after Trump vowed to obliterate the rogue nation’s twisted regime.
The tyrant’s demise came after an ultimatum was issued earlier today from the US President – surrender, or face certain death.
After the talks stalled, Trump pulled the trigger on the unprecedented blitz with Israel – codenamed Epic Fury.