The UAE said an Iranian barrage had targeted the country, saying it reserved the right to respond. The attacks came a day after Trump launched 'Project Freedom' to help trapped commercial vessels leave the Strait of Hormuz. Trump earlier announced on Monday that US forces had 'shot down' seven small Iranian military boats.

Iran fired missiles and drones at vessels in the Strait of Hormuz on Monday, and the U.S. sunk seven small Iranian boats in the waterway, U.S. officials said.

Tehran responded to a U.S. operation to guide commerical ships marooned in the Gulf out via the Hormuz Strait by threatening to attack American forces.