According to a report by The Wall Street Journal on May 11, multiple informed sources have revealed that the United Arab Emirates has launched military strikes against Iran, marking the Gulf state’s formal entry as a belligerent in the conflict. The UAE, which has become Iran’s primary target in the war, is now openly using its Western-made fighter jets and surveillance networks to protect its economic interests and expand its influence in the Middle East.
The UAE has not publicly acknowledged these attacks. Sources said the military actions included a strike on an oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf in early April. The attack triggered a massive fire, crippling most of the refinery’s capacity, which may take months to recover.
Iran at the time accused an enemy of attacking the refinery and retaliated by launching a barrage of missiles and drones at the UAE and Kuwait.
“Direct strikes by Gulf Arab states on Iran are a significant development,” said Middle East analyst Dina Esfandiary. “Tehran will now focus on driving a wedge between the UAE and other Gulf Arab states seeking a ceasefire.”
Following the outbreak of hostilities, Iran targeted Gulf states with missile and drone strikes, aiming to raise the economic and political costs for the U.S. and Israel, making it harder for them to continue their operations.
Iran concentrated most of its firepower on the UAE, launching over 2,800 missiles and drones—far more than any other nation, including Israel, has faced.
The repeated attacks have severely impacted the UAE’s aviation, tourism, and real estate sectors, leading to widespread leave and layoffs. Gulf officials acknowledged that this prompted the UAE to fundamentally reassess its strategic stance, viewing Iran as a rogue actor intent on destroying its economic and social development model.
According to the sources, the UAE has become the most hardline Gulf state against Iran, maintaining close military cooperation with the U.S. throughout the war.
Iran has repeatedly accused the UAE of joining the U.S.-Israel alliance in military operations against it.
