Unacknowledged attacks on Iran reveal deeper UAE-Israel alignment on the war on IranThe Dubai skyline with the landmark Burj Khalifa skyscraper is pictured as a smoke plume rises from an ongoing fire near Dubai International Airport, 16 March 2026 (AFP)
The United Arab Emirates has quietly launched military strikes on Iran, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, exposing Abu Dhabi’s role as an active participant in the Israeli-US war that has already engulfed the region.
People familiar with the matter told the newspaper that Emirati forces targeted a refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in the Gulf in early April.
The UAE has not publicly acknowledged the operation. The strike reportedly triggered a large fire and disabled much of the facility’s capacity for months, marking a significant escalation at a time when United States President Donald Trump was promoting a ceasefire after a five-week air campaign.
Iran described the incident as an “enemy attack” and responded with a barrage of missile and drone strikes against the UAE and Kuwait.
