The situation at the Colombia–Venezuela border has returned to normal after U.S. strikes on Venezuela.
After the U.S. raid on Jan 3, the Colombian government announced a temporary closure of a bustling border port with Venezuela in the Colombian town of Cucuta. Traffic resumed a day later, even as authorities continued to strengthen the deployment of security forces.
According to media reports at the time, the Colombian government deployed 11,000 soldiers along the border.
Military forces have since completely withdrawn. The border on the Colombian side has returned to its pre-raid state, with traffic appearing normal on the border bridge.
Agricela Funez, a Venezuelan waitress who works at a restaurant near the border checkpoint in Cucuta, said the security situation has since eased.
"The security situation has changed. They (the soldiers) withdrew and everything returned to normal. The military forces were stationed here for only about a week; there were many soldiers, military vehicles, and journalists," said Funez.
Funez said she was extremely worried about the safety of her two daughters, who live in Caracas, Venezuela's capital, when the attacks occurred. She added that she believes the United States wants Venezuela's natural resources.
"I was scared because I have family in Caracas. At 01:00, I received a call from my family. I was sleeping. I burst into tears when I received the call. It (The U.S. attack on Venezuela) was wrong. Many people lost their lives. I think what they want is the natural resources and wealth that we, Venezuela, possess," said Funez.
Another Venezuelan immigrant living in Colombia also said he believes the U.S. wants Venezuela’s oil.
"To seize all of Venezuela's wealth, especially its oil," he said.
Order returns to normal at Colombia-Venezuela border
The usually bustling streets in the travel hub of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) remain quiet while the city's airport -- normally one of the busiest in the world -- is practically deserted following Iranian missile attacks that have affected civilian areas over the past few days.
Joint military strikes launched by the U.S. and Israel on Iran on Saturday have triggered a sharp escalation across the Middle East, setting off waves of missile exchanges, mounting casualties, and far-reaching political and security repercussions.
Iran has responded with retaliatory strikes on various targets, with explosions reported in numerous countries including the UAE.
In recent days, the sounds of blasts have echoed in Dubai, leading to a noticeable decrease in the number of people and vehicles on the streets, while UAE authorities have advised residents to remain vigilant.
The closure of airspace across the Gulf region has also caused widespread disruption and left hundreds of thousands of passengers stranded.
Dubai International Airport now appears virtually empty, with no information displayed on the arrival boards.
Only one screen is operational for departures, and while the majority of flights have been canceled, the UAE has now started permitting a limited number to take off via what it is calling "safe air corridors" in careful coordination with other Gulf countries.
Some travelers gathered in the airport's waiting area on Tuesday, hoping to secure a spot on one of the handful of flights out of the country.
"I'm going back to India. I'm really excited. I came as a tourist. I arrived a week ago. I should have left on Sunday. But I'm leaving on Tuesday, today, two days later," said one Indian traveler.
However, many more remain stuck and can only wait patiently for more updates from airlines.
"I bought one (ticket) a month ago. But the plane that should fly now is canceled. I cannot fly away," said a stricken visitor from Germany.
Despite the circumstances, others say they will stay put and see how the situation unfolds.
"Yeah, I will stay in Dubai," said a worker from Uganda.
The number of visitors in the typically lively Dubai Mall is also noticeably down, while the landmark Apple Store is also presently closed.
The UAE's Ministry of Defense said on Wednesday that its air defense systems have intercepted close to 900 Iranian drones since the crisis erupted.
The ministry also confirmed that the attacks on the UAE have resulted in three fatalities as well as 78 minor injuries.
Dubai streets remain quiet as travel disruption continues after Iranian attacks
