The United Arab Emirates secretly entered the Middle East war and carried out attacks on Iran last month, the The Wall Street Journal reported, citing sources. This makes the UAE a new direct participant in the war alongside the US and Israel.
According to the report, the attacks targeted a refinery located on Iran's Lavan Island in early April — "around the time" US President Donald Trump was "announcing a ceasefire in the war" after a five-week air strike campaign.
The US quietly welcomed the Emirati strikes and any other Gulf states that wanted to join the fight, with one source claiming Washington was not concerned because the ceasefire had not yet fully settled into place.
However, on the morning of April 8, Iranian state broadcaster IRIB said "missile and drone attacks on the Emirates and Kuwait took place a few hours after the targeting of Lavan Island oil facilities in Iran."
The state broadcaster said the Lavan facility "was subjected to a cowardly attack" at 10:00 am (0630 GMT).
On the same day, just hours after the ceasefire came into effect, the UAE said it had been targeted by 17 Iranian missiles and 35 drones.
The refinery was Iran's 10th-largest refinery as of 2020, handling 60,000 barrels of crude per day, according to EIA figures.
The UAE has not publicly acknowledged carrying out attacks inside Iran. Its ministry of foreign affairs pointed to earlier statements asserting the country’s right to respond "including militarily" to hostile acts.
Iran heavily targeted the UAE during the conflict, launching more than 2,800 missiles and drones at Emirati territory, airports, and infrastructure. The attacks disrupted tourism, air traffic, and the property market, prompting what Gulf officials described as a major shift in Abu Dhabi’s strategic outlook toward Iran.
Security analysts cited in the report said the UAE possesses one of the region’s most advanced air forces, equipped with French Mirage fighters, advanced F-16 jets, drones, and surveillance aircraft. Speculation about Emirati involvement intensified after unidentified fighter jets were reportedly seen operating over Iran earlier in the war.
The report also stated that the UAE backed draft UN resolutions authorising force, if necessary, to protect the Strait of Hormuz, and imposed restrictions affecting Iranian-linked schools, clubs, and travel access in Dubai.
