A WSJ report has alleged that the UAE secretly carried out strikes inside Iran during the recent Gulf conflict, despite publicly maintaining a position of neutrality.
Representation image (Reuters via ANI)
The United Arab Emirates, which had publicly denied taking part in the recent West Asia conflict, allegedly carried out covert strikes inside Iran during the war, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing people familiar with the matter.
The report has added a new dimension to the regional conflict that had already drawn in multiple Gulf nations, raising fresh questions over the UAE’s behind-the-scenes military role even as it maintained an official stance of non-involvement throughout the five-week confrontation.
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According to the WSJ report, one of the strikes targeted a refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf in early April, around the same period US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire after weeks of military escalation involving the Islamic Republic.
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The attack reportedly triggered a major blaze at the refinery and severely affected operations at the facility for months.
At the time, Iran had described the incident as an enemy attack. Tehran later responded with missile and drone strikes aimed at the UAE and Kuwait, escalating tensions across the Gulf region.
While Abu Dhabi has not publicly admitted carrying out the attacks, the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred to earlier statements asserting the country’s right to respond militarily to hostile acts, according to the report.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the allegations. The White House also avoided directly addressing questions linked to the UAE’s reported involvement. However, according to WSJ, the administration said President Trump retained “every option at his disposal” and that Washington continued to maintain “maximum leverage” over Iran.
At the beginning of the conflict, Gulf countries had stated that they would not permit their airspace or military facilities to be used for operations against Iran.
But the situation shifted after Iran launched waves of missile and drone attacks targeting airports, population centres and energy infrastructure across the Gulf, reportedly in an attempt to increase the economic cost of the war for regional governments.
The UAE was among the worst-hit countries during the conflict, with more than 2,800 missiles and drones allegedly directed towards the country, the report said.
According to WSJ, the attacks disrupted key sectors of the Emirati economy, including aviation, tourism and real estate, while also leading to layoffs and furloughs.
The report also cited open-source researchers who claimed imagery showed French-made Mirage fighter jets and Chinese Wing Loong drones operating inside Iranian territory. Both aircraft systems are used by the UAE military.
Beyond military action, the UAE also backed diplomatic and economic measures aimed at Iran, including support for proposed United Nations resolutions linked to freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
The report added that Emirati authorities also tightened restrictions on Iranian-linked entities operating within Dubai.
Iran has repeatedly accused the UAE of siding with the United States and Israel during the conflict, allegations that gained fresh attention after the latest WSJ report.
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