Graeme Souness
Liverpool legend Graeme Souness found himself in a precarious situation at Abu Dhabi International Airport amid escalating tensions in the Middle East. The 72-year-old former footballer was among thousands of Britons attempting to leave the region following military strikes involving the USA, Israel, and Iran. The conflict intensified on Saturday when the USA and Israel launched attacks on Iran, prompting retaliatory strikes from Iran on locations including Dubai, Doha, Bahrain, and Kuwait.
Graeme Souness said: “That is my plane I am meant to be catching to go back to the UK. 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.”
Souness continued: “Chaos continues. The flight’s been cancelled, still hearing explosives, so we give up. We’re just going to check into a hotel for a couple of nights and see where we are. 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. Anyway, I’ll keep you posted.”
The situation at the airport was further complicated by the suspension of flights. Abu Dhabi’s national carrier, Etihad, confirmed that all flights scheduled to depart from Abu Dhabi were suspended until 2 pm UAE time (10 am GMT) on Sunday, March 1. Flights scheduled to arrive before this time were also cancelled. This disruption left Souness and many others stranded, forcing them to seek temporary accommodation.
The conflict’s escalation has drawn international attention, with US President Donald Trump announcing significant strikes against Iran’s leadership, including the targeting of Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) also reported eliminating key figures in the Iranian regime’s defense leadership. These developments have heightened tensions in the region, affecting travel and safety for many.
Souness, who had traveled to the United Arab Emirates three weeks prior in his role as a Liverpool ambassador, now faces uncertainty regarding his return to the UK. His experience highlights the broader impact of geopolitical conflicts on civilians, particularly those caught in transit.
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