The UAE secretly carried out strikes against Iran during the war with the US and Israel
Strikes on Iran and the attack on Lavan
The United Arab Emirates carried out military strikes against Iran, despite not having publicly announced its involvement in the war. This was reported by sources familiar with the situation, writes the WSJ.
According to them, one of the targets was an oil refinery on the Iranian island of Lavan in the Persian Gulf. The strike was carried out in early April, around the time US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire following a five-week air campaign.
The attack caused a massive fire at the facility, and a significant portion of its capacity was put out of action for several months.
At the time, Iran claimed that the plant had been struck by the enemy, after which it launched a massive barrage of missiles and drones at the UAE and Kuwait.
According to one of the sources, the US was not unhappy with this attack, as the ceasefire had not yet fully come into effect. Washington also reportedly viewed the participation of the UAE and other Gulf states in the war positively.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on the reports of the strikes, but reiterated previous statements in which the country reserved the right to respond to hostile actions, including by military means.
The Pentagon also declined to comment. The White House did not directly answer questions about the UAE’s role in the war, but stated that Donald Trump has ‘all options’ open to him regarding Iran.
Iran attacked the UAE with missiles and drones
Analysts note that the involvement of a Gulf Arab state in a direct military conflict with Iran marks a significant shift for the region.
“Tehran will now seek to further widen the rift between the UAE and other Gulf states that are seeking to act as mediators to end the war,” said Middle East analyst Dina Esfandiari.
Before the war began, the Gulf states had stated that they would not allow their airspace or bases to be used for attacks. However, once hostilities commenced, Iran began striking population centres, energy infrastructure and airports in the region.
According to sources, the UAE bore the brunt of the strikes. Iran reportedly launched over 2,800 missiles and drones at the country, more than at any other state, including Israel.
These attacks affected air travel, tourism and the property market in the UAE, and also led to a wave of redundancies and forced leave.
Sources among representatives of the Gulf states claim that, following this, the UAE began to view Iran as a state that threatens the country’s economic and social model.
Military cooperation between the UAE and the US
Following the outbreak of the war, the UAE became the most openly confrontational state among the Gulf countries and maintained close military cooperation with the US.
H.A. Hellyer, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, stated that Abu Dhabi did not want war from the outset, but after the first Iranian strikes, the situation for the country changed dramatically.
According to him, the UAE did not confirm exactly which targets it had attacked, but more active participation by the Gulf states in the war was only a matter of time.
Rumours of the UAE’s involvement in the fighting began to circulate as early as mid-March, when a fighter jet not belonging to either Israel or the US was spotted over Iran.
Open-source researchers also drew attention to photos allegedly showing French Mirage fighter jets and Chinese Wing Loong drones used by the UAE.
The report notes that the UAE’s military is significantly inferior to that of the US, but the country has a well-trained air force equipped with Mirage and F-16 fighter jets, refuelling aircraft and reconnaissance drones.
Former US Air Force General Dave Deptula stated that the UAE possesses formidable capabilities for precision strikes, air defence and logistics.
“If you have such a powerful air force, why just sit back and take Iran’s strikes without responding?” he said.
Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz
Against the backdrop of the war, the Gulf states have begun to seek new mechanisms to ensure their own security more actively.
Anwar Gargash, the UAE President’s diplomatic adviser, stated in April that the Emirates are continuing to strengthen relations with the US.
In addition to strikes against Iran, the UAE supported draft UN resolutions authorising the use of force to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
The UAE has also taken measures against Iran’s economic interests. In Dubai, schools and clubs linked to Tehran were closed, and visa and transit restrictions were imposed on Iranian citizens.
Iran has repeatedly accused the UAE of participating in a military campaign alongside the US and Israel.
After the US and Israel destroyed Iran’s air defence systems, the risks of flying over Iran have significantly decreased, said former US Air Force Colonel John Venable.
“If you are an ally and want to join the operations, now is a very opportune moment, because the threat is minimal,” he said.
