An Egyptian engineer, Hossam Sadek Khalifa, was killed, and up to 14 civilians were injured, including a driver of Hossam’s car who had been critically injured and four individuals – two Pakistani nationals and two Egyptian nationals – who had sustained minor injuries caused by falling debris following the interception of an alleged Iranian missile by air defense systems of the United Arab Emirates at Habshan gas facilities in the UAE during the daytime on Friday, April 3, 2026.
According to the sources, the exact place of the incident was the “Miram 4” site, belonging to Petrojet, where three cranes were operating before being struck by shrapnel.
Referring to Abu Dhabi Media Office, @AJABreaking reported that the incident resulted in one death, four injuries, and significant damage to the Habshan gas facilities. The Facebook account @ In love with Egypt stated the higher injury toll, claiming that there were 14 injuries resulting from the attack on the Habshan gas facilities.
Hossam Sadek Khalifa was Assistant General Manager of Quality at Petrojet – UAE Branch. As reported by the Egyptian Cabinet Presidency on Facebook and Asharq News, Hossam was killed during the evacuation operation when shrapnel fell directly on the car he was traveling in, resulting in his immediate death. His driver whose name is unknown reportedly sustained serious injuries and was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
Two Egyptian employees of the company, Yasser Gomaa Ahmed Abdel Salam (Laboratory Supervisor) and Mohamed Ibrahim Ali Abdel Rahman (Civil Quality Control Engineer), were injured, as reported in a statement issued by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources. The wounded received the necessary treatment and were discharged from the hospital. Two other civilians of Pakistani origin, whose names were not disclosed, suffered minor injuries.
Multiple tributes to the first Egyptian victims of the Iran-US war poured in social media.
Mohamed Hossam, the engineer’s cousin, wrote on his Facebook page: “To God we belong and to Him we shall return. My cousin, Engineer Hossam Sadek Khalifa, has passed away. May God have mercy on him and grant him Paradise. O God, forgive him, have mercy on him, strengthen him when questioned, and grant us and his family patience and solace.”
The user Hussein GoouDa also warmly remembered Hossam in his emotional Facebook tribute: “Indeed, we belong to Allah, and indeed, to Him we will return. With hearts filled with sorrow… today we lost a dear brother and a beloved friend, Eng. Hossam Sadek. He was not just a manager at work… but an older brother. He was a role model in manners, knowledge, morals, and respect. God is my witness that I loved him deeply and he held a special place in my heart.”
Hossam’s death was mourned by the Ministry of Petroleum and Mineral Resources which said in the statement: “Engineer Karim Badawi, Minister of Petroleum and Mineral Resources, and all leaders and employees of the petroleum sector and its companies, mourn the loss of the late Engineer Hossam Sadek Khalifa, Assistant General Manager of Quality at Petrojet – UAE Branch, who passed away while performing his duties at the company’s site in Habshan, Abu Dhabi, during evacuation operations following two fires caused by falling debris from an interception by UAE air defenses.” Further in the statement, “the loss of a dedicated and distinguished member of its staff, recalling with deep appreciation his professional career, characterized by sincerity, devotion, and commitment” was mentioned.
On Facebook, Petrojet Page – The official page of Petrojet Company also published a tribute to its deceased employee: “With profound sorrow and grief, and with hearts heavy with pain, Petrojet bid farewell yesterday to one of its most loyal sons. #The_late_Engineer_Hossam_Sadek – Assistant General Manager of Quality at the UAE branch, who departed from us while performing his duty with utmost honor and dedication. The deceased was a role model of commitment and devotion, a man who understood the value of work and shouldered his responsibilities with sincerity, giving without expectation, and contributing without measure, leaving an unforgettable mark on all of us.”
The article by El Balad dedicated to the memory of Hossam mentioned that shortly before his death, he had written on his personal page: “The soul is distressed by poverty, yet poverty is better than wealth that corrupts it. True wealth lies in contentment; if it is afflicted, all that exists in the universe will not suffice.” According to the same article, one of Hossam’s relatives described him as “a refined person in his morals, kind-hearted, never hesitating to help anyone, and extremely dedicated to his work.”
The UAE authorities officially announced that civilian harm occurred as a result of debris falling after the successful interception by domestic air defense systems. The authorities, in particular, Abu Dhabi Media Office in an official statement, also confirmed that two fires broke out as a result of this incident and emergency response teams acted swiftly to bring the situation under control.
As the civilian harm may have occurred from the alleged Iranian missiles or the UAE air defense, the strike status of the incident has been graded as “contested” while the civilian harm status has been graded as “fair.”