Graeme Souness and Vicky Pattison stuck in Middle East

The former Rangers and Liverpool manager shared videos from Abu Dhabi during his attempts to return to the UK.

Meanwhile, Pattison is among the celebrities and other Brits who are taking shelter in Dubai.

Flights to and from the Middle East are in chaos with delays and cancellations after the US and Israel launched an attack on targets across Iran and the UAE closed its airspace.

Graeme Souness and Vicky Pattison stuck in Middle East

Souness posted two videos on Instagram from Zayed International Airport.

He said: “I’m hearing some pretty loud bangs go off and that is anti-missiles taking out missiles that have been fired at some American bases.”

An update then followed, with the 72-year-old saying: “Flight’s been cancelled, still hearing explosions so we’ve given up, we’re just going to check into a hotel for a couple of nights and see where we are.

“Hopefully things will settle down and we’ll get back on the flight.

“You get grumpy when you get delays and stuff at airports but I think we should think of people that maybe this time are dying.”

One person has been killed at Zayed International Airport, with others also injured there.

Many others have been injured at Dubai International Airport, which has been hit by strikes, while thousands of flights remain grounded.

Reality star Pattison, known for winning I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here winner and being on the latest series of Strictly Come Dancing, had been enjoying a break in Dubai with husband Ercan Ramadan, best known for The Only Way Is Essex.

However, her departing flight to Australia has been cancelled, with the TV personality providing an update to fans on social media.

She wrote on her Instagram story: “Ercan and I were due to fly to Sydney this evening.

“But like many others out flight was cancelled and we are now effectively stuck in Dubai.

“We are receiving a lot of messages from people asking if we’re ok which we are.

“We are currently in our hotel and have been assured we’re safe.

“We are aware that the situation that is unfolding is scary and I’m also aware that there’s a lot of videos circulating on social media which are understandably concerning.

“I’m not sure what else to say, other than we’re doing our best to stay calm, not feed any unconfirmed narratives and we’re thinking of everyone who is feeling unsettled and unsafe right now.”

Pattison and Souness are not the only celebrities affected by the ongoing situation.

Former Love Island star Laura Anderson had also recently arrived in Dubai with her daughter Bonnie when the Iranian retaliation started, and air defence fire was seen over the UAE’s commercial hub.

She wrote on Instagram: “Horrendous situation. Bonnie and I are fine.”

Her fellow Love Island star Arabella Chi is also in Dubai with her daughter Gigi and wrote on Instagram: “Dubai friends. Scary times. Stay safe.”

What is happening in Iran?

The US and Israel launched a major attack on targets across Iran on Saturday (February 1).

President Donald Trump said the attack was to “ensure that Iran does not obtain a nuclear weapon”.

Following the attack, Iran retaliated with missiles reported to have targeted Israel and countries across the Middle East.

Iranian state TV said in the early hours of this morning (March 1) that the country’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, had died.

It comes after US President Donald Trump claimed Khamenei had died in the attacks on Saturday morning and urged the Iranian people to seize “the single greatest chance … to take back their country”.

The Associated Press reported that state TV gave no cause for the 86-year-old’s death.

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Iran has vowed to carry out its “most intense operation” ever in retaliation for the killing of Khamenei, with strikes reported in several Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia.

The UK declined to say whether it believes US-Israeli strikes on Iran are legal as missile attacks continued across the Middle East on Sunday.

While the UK has played no part in the US-Israeli strikes, Defence Secretary John Healey has warned that Iranian retaliation could put UK personnel and allies at risk.