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strikeMay 12, 2026

US report says UAE secretly carrying out attacks on Iran

Summary

US intelligence reports have revealed that the UAE has joined active military operations against Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday evening that “the United Arab Emirates has carried out military strikes on Iran,” with implicit backing from the US administration, which has also encouraged other Gulf states to join the fighting. The attacks, which the UAE has not officially acknowledged, reportedly included strikes on an oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf. People familiar with the matter said the UAE had launched military strikes against Iran, describing the Gulf monarchy as an active combatant in a war in which it has been Iran’s biggest target. The report said the UAE military is well equipped with Western-made fighter jets and advanced surveillance systems. It added that the attacks suggest Abu Dhabi is becoming more willing to use its military capabilities to protect its economic power and growing influence across the Middle East. US officials said Washington viewed the move as another strong message to Tehran, particularly amid rising tensions surrounding Iran’s military and nuclear activities. READ: UAE says Iran targeted ADNOC tanker with drones in Strait of Hormuz

Perspectives

Iranian Official

The UAE, backed by the US administration, has launched aggressive military strikes on Iranian sovereign territory, including an oil refinery on Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf, in a clear violation of international norms and Iran's territorial integrity. These unprovoked attacks, carried out with Western-supplied weaponry and tacit American encouragement of other Gulf states, represent foreign aggression aimed at undermining Iran's independent defense and nuclear capabilities. The Islamic Republic will continue to resist such hostile interventions while defending its sovereignty against these provocations.

Israeli

From an Israeli security perspective, the UAE's reported strikes on Iran's Lavan Island oil refinery represent a critical escalation against Tehran's existential threats, including its nuclear ambitions and expansive proxy networks like Hezbollah and the Houthis that encircle the Jewish state. This move, backed implicitly by Washington, underscores the defensive necessity for regional actors to confront Iran's aggression directly, validating Israel's long-standing warnings about the regime's destabilizing reach. As Abu Dhabi leverages its advanced Western-supplied capabilities, it highlights the imperative for coordinated efforts to neutralize these dangers before they materialize into direct attacks on Israel.

Neutral

According to a Wall Street Journal report citing people familiar with US intelligence, the United Arab Emirates carried out strikes on an oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island, which have not been officially acknowledged by Abu Dhabi. The report stated that the UAE received implicit US backing and described the actions as part of broader Gulf state involvement amid tensions over Iran’s military and nuclear activities. UAE officials have separately claimed that Iran targeted an ADNOC tanker with drones in the Strait of Hormuz.

Western

The UAE has conducted precision strikes on an Iranian oil refinery at Lavan Island, joining active operations to neutralize threats to Gulf energy infrastructure and regional stability amid Tehran’s escalating military and nuclear activities. With implicit US backing and advanced Western fighter jets and surveillance systems, Abu Dhabi’s targeted actions deliver a clear deterrent message while protecting critical maritime routes like the Strait of Hormuz. Washington views the moves as a strong signal encouraging broader Gulf coordination against Iranian aggression.

Pro-Peace

The UAE's reported strikes on an oil refinery on Iran's Lavan Island, with US encouragement, heighten the risk of civilian casualties and environmental devastation across the Persian Gulf, where pollution and retaliation could displace communities and disrupt vital resources for millions. Such military escalation, rather than resolving tensions over Iran's nuclear activities, amplifies humanitarian suffering on all sides amid an already volatile conflict. Diplomatic negotiations and de-escalation efforts offer a far less costly path to regional stability than further warfare.

Global South

The UAE’s reported strikes on Iran’s Lavan Island oil facilities, conducted with US encouragement and Western-supplied aircraft, illustrate how Gulf states are drawn into confrontations that advance external strategic interests over regional sovereignty. Such actions, framed by Washington as a deterrent to Tehran’s nuclear path, expose persistent neo-colonial patterns in which local militaries serve as instruments of great-power messaging. International institutions have once again failed to mediate, allowing external backing to escalate tensions that primarily threaten the autonomy of Global South nations in the Gulf.

Actors involved

USIran

Sources

  • CurrentsAPI

    US intelligence reports have revealed that the UAE has joined active military operations against Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday evening that “the United Arab Emirates has carried out military strikes on Iran,” with implicit backing from the US administration, wh…

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