UAE secretly conducted military strikes on Iranmilitary strikes on Iran during April war, reports reveal
The United Arab Emirates carried out previously undisclosed attacks on Iranian targets, including an oil refinery on Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf, during the US-Israel-Iran conflict in early April, according to multiple sources cited by the Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.
The strikes occurred both before and after an April 8 ceasefire, with some operations conducted alongside Israeli forces, marking the UAE's emergence as an active combatant in the regional war.
The revelation raises concerns about potential escalation and broader Gulf state involvement in the conflict.
US-Israel Coalition
The UAE's participation in military operations against Iran represents a significant expansion of the coalition opposing Iranian aggression in the region. The strikes targeted Iranian military and energy infrastructure that posed threats to regional security and Gulf shipping lanes.
UAE Position
Senior UAE officials have denied the reports as fabricated, with one official stating that the country announces its military actions openly rather than conducting them in secret. The UAE maintains it acts in defense of regional stability and its own security interests.
Iranian Perspective
Iran views the UAE's involvement as evidence of a coordinated US-Israeli campaign to destabilize the region and drag Gulf states into conflict. Iranian officials have characterized the attacks as cowardly and part of a broader strategy to undermine Iranian sovereignty and regional influence.
Regional Analysts
Observers warn that UAE participation risks drawing other Gulf states into direct confrontation with Iran, potentially transforming the conflict into a wider regional war with catastrophic consequences for the entire area.
- The UAE normalized ties with Israel via the 2020 Abraham Accords, fostering unprecedented military cooperation against shared threats like Iran.
- Lavan Island's oil terminal links to the massive South Pars gas field, the world's largest natural gas reserve shared with Qatar.
US-Iran Ceasefire War
The United States launched military strikes against Iran on June 26, 2026, in response to a drone attack on a commercial cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a "foolish violation" of the 60-day ceasefire agreement signed just days earlier[2][4][14].
26 June, 09:35 PM
US launches strikes against Iran following commercial ship attack26 June, 04:47 PM
Trump calls Iran drone attack on cargo ship a ceasefire violation
