The United Arab Emirates reported that four missiles were fired toward its territory from Iran on Monday, and that it was actively engaging with another "missile and drone attack."
- There were also fires reported at a fuel facility in the UAE and on ships off its coast. Iran has not claimed responsibility for any of the apparent attacks.
Why it matters: This would be the first time Iran attacked a Gulf state since the ceasefire was announced nearly a month ago. The U.S. and Iran may now be on the precipice of a return to war.
State of play: The incidents come after President Trump launched a new initiative to "guide" ships through the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran threatened to respond with "force."
- CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper told reporters on Monday that after the U.S. began the operation, Iran fired cruise missiles at Navy ships and drones at commercial vessels. All were "engaged" and no U.S. Navy ships or U.S.-flagged ships were hit, he said.
- Six Iranian small boats were eliminated by U.S. forces, Cooper said.
Driving the news: The UAE's Defense Ministry said three cruise missiles coming from Iran were intercepted and a third fell into the sea, and told its citizens the loud booms heard inside the country were the result of those aerial interceptions.
- Less than an hour later, the Defense Ministry said it was responding to another attack.
- Separately, a government media office in the emirate of Fujairah said a drone had struck a fuel facility there, starting a fire.
- The U.K.'s maritime operations center also said it had received reports of a fire in the engine room of a cargo vessel off of Dubai, and of a second vessel on fire off the coast of the UAE, both with unknown causes.
The latest: The UAE said the missile and drone attacks had injured three people, all of Indian nationality, and said it holds "Iran fully responsible for these treacherous attacks and their consequences."
This story is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
