Summary

UAE secretly joined Israeli-US strikes on Iran: Report The United Arab Emirates has quietly launched military strikes on Iran, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, exposing Abu Dhabi’s role as an active participant in the Israeli-US war that has already engulfed the region. People familiar with the matter told the newspaper that Emirati forces targeted a refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in the Gulf in early April. The UAE has not publicly acknowledged the operation. The strike reportedly triggered a large fire and disabled much of the facility’s capacity for months, marking a significant escalation at a time when United States President Donald Trump was promoting a ceasefire after a five-week air campaign. Iran described the incident as an “enemy attack” and responded with a barrage of missile and drone strikes against the UAE and Kuwait. Tehran has since directed the bulk of its firepower at the Emirates, launching more than 2,800 projectiles - far exceeding attacks on any other country, including Israel. The scale of retaliation has shaken the UAE’s economy, disrupting air traffic, hitting tourism revenues, and rattling its property market. Companies have announced furloughs and layoffs as the fallout spreads across key sectors. More than $120 billion has been wiped from market capitalisation on the Dubai and Abu Dhabi stock exchanges up to the end of April, while over 18,400 flights have been cancelled. Washington has quietly endorsed Abu Dhabi’s involvement, the report said, reinforcing perceptions that the UAE is operating in lockstep with US and Israeli military objectives. Emerging Israeli-US-UAE axis The alignment underscores a deepening axis that critics say has prolonged and intensified the conflict rather than containing it. The UAE has emerged as one of the most confrontational Gulf states, maintaining close military coordination with both the US and Israel throughout the war. That posture has drawn it directly into the line of fire, despite longstanding efforts by Gulf monarchies to balance relations with Iran. Speculation about Emirati involvement began circulating in mid-March after footage showed an unidentified fighter jet over Iranian territory that did not match known Israeli or US aircraft. Around the same time Middle East Eye reported that Iran reportedly shot down a Chinese-made Wing Loong II drone near Shiraz, prompting analysts to question whether Gulf states, including Saudi Arabia or the UAE, had entered offensive operations. Tehran has also sought to widen divisions within the Gulf. According to the Wall Street Journal, Iran warned Saudi Arabia and Oman that it would “heavily target” the UAE in response to the Israeli-US war on the Islamic Republic, signalling an attempt to isolate Abu Dhabi from its neighbours. Those fractures are already visible. Tensions between the UAE and Saudi Arabia have simmered for years and appear to be worsening. The UAE’s recent exit from OPEC has further strained ties with Riyadh, suggesting that the war on Iran is deepening rivalries rather than fostering unity among Gulf powers. Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.