“You’re Just Chilling and Then Suddenly You Hear Boom”

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DUBAI , UAE – A Bahamian mom and her young daughter found themselves sheltering at home in Dubai this weekend, as missile interceptions lit up the sky following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran.

Her husband, who’s a Bahamian pilot remains stranded abroad due to airspace disruptions.

She spoke with our Joshua Williams and told us that she too heard the explosions.

Booms in the sky, air defense systems activating, and residents across Dubai looking up Saturday night — after strikes targeting Iran triggered missile interceptions across parts of the region.

Iranian warships sunk, as strikes hit more than 1,000 targets so far, according to officials.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was reportedly killed in the strikes.

For Tanaz Cunningham, a Bahamian business owner living in the United Arab Emirates, it hit close to home.

Tanaz Cunningham — Bahamian in Dubai

“I wasn’t scared at all because I know it was just, you know, loud noises of the UAE intercepting missiles, so you know it wasn’t really a threat. I wasn’t really in fear. But I was scared of the loud noises because they were coming in unexpectedly, like every 30 minutes to an hour. So that’s it — if you’re just chilling on the couch, laying in your bed, and you hear boom, you just do a little pitch, but otherwise we’re good.”

Tanaz is correct. So far, officials in the UAE report no direct strikes on Dubai, saying the loud booms were missiles being intercepted high above the city.

Cunningham says after the initial hours, things quieted down.

Tanaz Cunningham — Bahamian in Dubai

“The last loud noise I heard was around 2 p.m. and now it’s 7:09 p.m. , so now it’s been super quiet, and yeah.”

But while the sky may be quieter, the uncertainty isn’t.

Cunningham tells me her husband, Captain Jeffery Bethell Jr., a pilot with flydubai, is currently in Tanzania.

After what was supposed to be a 24-hour layover stretched into something much longer, as flights across the region were delayed or rerouted.

Tanaz Cunningham — Bahamian in Dubai

“Just me and my daughter here. He went on a 24-hour layover, I think Thursday or Friday. I think Friday, so that was supposed to be a 24-hour layover, now turning into 72, maybe a little more.”

Iran has promised retaliation, as commercial air traffic in parts of the region was also temporarily suspended.

For now, it’s a waiting game.

As this Bahamian family watches global headlines turn into real life.

Cunningham says she’s now seeing signs of a possible reopening.

Tanaz Cunningham — Bahamian in Dubai

“I see some information coming in now that they are partially opening the airport for cargo flights, and I think they may resume commercial flights tomorrow — just waiting on air traffic control and other relevant government officials.”

As tensions continue to build in the region, airlines and governments are monitoring conditions by the hour, with many families, including this one, hoping for de-escalation.

Officials say security systems remain active, and flight operations are expected to resume in phases depending on conditions in the hours ahead.

We spoke with Foreign Ministry officials as well.