Wall Street Journal: UAE Secretly Attacks Iran, Shifting from Target to Belligerent
According to The Wall Street Journal, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched secret military attacks against Iran. This action indicates that the UAE, previously a primary target of Iranian attacks, has now become an active belligerent in the conflict.
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- 📰 Published: May 12, 2026 at 09:51
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US-Iran War Key News
Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Dubai, 11th, comprehensive foreign report) The Wall Street Journal, citing informed sources, stated that the United Arab Emirates has launched military attacks against Iran. This action shows that the UAE, originally one of Iran's main targets, has now become an active belligerent in the war.
The Wall Street Journal reported that UAE forces are equipped with Western-made fighter jets and surveillance networks. These attacks indicate that the UAE is now more willing to use military force to protect its economic power and growing influence in the Middle East.
Sources revealed that the military strikes, not officially acknowledged by the UAE, include an attack in early April on an Iranian oil refinery on Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf, which halted the refinery's production for several months. This attack occurred as the US and Israel concluded five weeks of airstrikes, and President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire.
Iran at the time stated that the refinery was attacked by an enemy and retaliated by bombing the UAE and Kuwait with missiles and drones.
One of the informed sources cited by The Wall Street Journal stated that the US was not displeased with this attack because the ceasefire agreement had not yet officially taken effect, and the US privately held a positive attitude towards the UAE and other Gulf countries willing to join the action.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on these strikes but pointed out that they had previously stated that the UAE has the right to respond, including militarily, to hostile acts.
The US Pentagon declined to comment; the White House did not directly respond to questions about the UAE's involvement in the war but stated that President Trump has all options available and that the US has maximum influence over the Iranian regime.
Dina Esfandiary, a Middle East affairs analyst and author, stated: "It is significant that a Gulf Arab country directly attacked Iran." She pointed out: "Tehran will now seek to further divide the UAE from other Gulf neighbors trying to mediate an end to the war."
Before the war, Gulf countries had stated that they would not allow their airspace or bases to be used for attacks. However, after the outbreak of war, Iran immediately attacked densely populated centers, energy infrastructure, and airports in the Gulf region with missiles and drones, attempting to raise the economic and political cost, making it difficult for the US and Israel to continue their actions.
Iran concentrated most of its firepower on the UAE, far more than its attacks on Israel and other countries.
These attacks severely impacted the UAE's aviation, tourism, and real estate markets, leading to a large number of unpaid leaves and layoffs. Gulf officials stated that this also caused a fundamental shift in the UAE's strategic focus, viewing Iran as a malicious actor disrupting the country's economic and social model based on foreign talent and stable security.
According to informed sources, the UAE has become the most openly confrontational country against Iran in the Gulf region and has maintained solid military cooperation with the US throughout the war.
H.A. Hellyer, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, stated that although the UAE has not confirmed whether it launched the attack, it was expected that the level of military involvement by Gulf countries would increase since Iran's first attack on the UAE.
In terms of military scale, the UAE is far smaller than the US, but its air force is well-trained, possessing Mirage and a fleet of advanced F-16 fighter jets, equipped with refueling aircraft, command and control aircraft, and reconnaissance drones.
In addition to military actions, the UAE also supported a UN draft resolution authorizing the use of force if necessary to break Iran's blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Economically, the UAE also closed schools and clubs in Dubai linked to Tehran, refused to issue visas and transit rights to Iranian citizens, significantly weakening the financial and trade lifeline that the UAE had long provided to Iran under Western sanctions.
Iran, in turn, has repeatedly accused the UAE of joining US and Israeli military operations.
After the US and Israel destroyed Iran's air defense capabilities, the risk of missions over Iran has significantly decreased. John Venable, a retired US Air Force colonel, stated that for allies, "now is a good time to participate because the threat is extremely low. As long as they are at medium to high altitude, fighter jets can do almost anything, and Iran can't do anything about them." (Edited by Tsai Chia-min) 1150512
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Central News Agency
(Central News Agency, Dubai, 11th, comprehensive foreign report) The Wall Street Journal, citing informed sources, stated that the United Arab Emirates has launched military attacks against Iran. This action shows that the UAE, originally one of Iran's main targets, has now become an active belligerent in the war.
The Wall Street Journal reported that UAE forces are equipped with Western-made fighter jets and surveillance networks. These attacks indicate that the UAE is now more willing to use military force to protect its economic power and growing influence in the Middle East.
Sources revealed that the military strikes, not officially acknowledged by the UAE, include an attack in early April on an Iranian oil refinery on Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf, which halted the refinery's production for several months. This attack occurred as the US and Israel concluded five weeks of airstrikes, and President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire.
Iran at the time stated that the refinery was attacked by an enemy and retaliated by bombing the UAE and Kuwait with missiles and drones.
One of the informed sources cited by The Wall Street Journal stated that the US was not displeased with this attack because the ceasefire agreement had not yet officially taken effect, and the US privately held a positive attitude towards the UAE and other Gulf countries willing to join the action.
The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs declined to comment on these strikes but pointed out that they had previously stated that the UAE has the right to respond, including militarily, to hostile acts.
The US Pentagon declined to comment; the White House did not directly respond to questions about the UAE's involvement in the war but stated that President Trump has all options available and that the US has maximum influence over the Iranian regime.
Dina Esfandiary, a Middle East affairs analyst and author, stated: "It is significant that a Gulf Arab country directly attacked Iran." She pointed out: "Tehran will now seek to further divide the UAE from other Gulf neighbors trying to mediate an end to the war."
Before the war, Gulf countries had stated that they would not allow their airspace or bases to be used for attacks. However, after the outbreak of war, Iran immediately attacked densely populated centers, energy infrastructure, and airports in the Gulf region with missiles and drones, attempting to raise the economic and political cost, making it difficult for the US and Israel to continue their actions.
Iran concentrated most of its firepower on the UAE, far more than its attacks on Israel and other countries.
These attacks severely impacted the UAE's aviation, tourism, and real estate markets, leading to a large number of unpaid leaves and layoffs. Gulf officials stated that this also caused a fundamental shift in the UAE's strategic focus, viewing Iran as a malicious actor disrupting the country's economic and social model based on foreign talent and stable security.
According to informed sources, the UAE has become the most openly confrontational country against Iran in the Gulf region and has maintained solid military cooperation with the US throughout the war.
H.A. Hellyer, a senior research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, stated that although the UAE has not confirmed whether it launched the attack, it was expected that the level of military involvement by Gulf countries would increase since Iran's first attack on the UAE.
In terms of military scale, the UAE is far smaller than the US, but its air force is well-trained, possessing Mirage and a fleet of advanced F-16 fighter jets, equipped with refueling aircraft, command and control aircraft, and reconnaissance drones.
In addition to military actions, the UAE also supported a UN draft resolution authorizing the use of force if necessary to break Iran's blockade of the strategic Strait of Hormuz.
Economically, the UAE also closed schools and clubs in Dubai linked to Tehran, refused to issue visas and transit rights to Iranian citizens, significantly weakening the financial and trade lifeline that the UAE had long provided to Iran under Western sanctions.
Iran, in turn, has repeatedly accused the UAE of joining US and Israeli military operations.
After the US and Israel destroyed Iran's air defense capabilities, the risk of missions over Iran has significantly decreased. John Venable, a retired US Air Force colonel, stated that for allies, "now is a good time to participate because the threat is extremely low. As long as they are at medium to high altitude, fighter jets can do almost anything, and Iran can't do anything about them." (Edited by Tsai Chia-min) 1150512
Choose to stand with facts; every sponsorship you provide is a force to protect press freedom.
Download the Central News Agency's "First-hand News" APP to stay updated with the latest news.
Text, images, and videos on this website may not be reproduced, publicly broadcast, or publicly transmitted and used without authorization.