The United Arab Emirates has conducted covert military strikes against Iran, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.
One of the attacks targeted an oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf during early April. The strike was never publicly acknowledged by Emirati authorities.
Abu Dhabi’s security strategy has quietly shifted in the past few months alone. US war analysts opined on X that the country is increasingly willing to deploy its advanced military capabilities beyond defensive postures to hurt Iran.
UAE possesses modern Western-supplied fighter aircraft, surveillance systems, and precision strike technology which allow it to attack another country far beyond its borders.
The strikes also complicate public narratives surrounding recent regional tensions. Undisclosed actions carried out before open hostilities can reshape perceptions of who initiated escalation.
If the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) confirms this, it would position UAE not only as a political actor but as an active participant in the ear against Iran.
Neither Emirati nor Iranian officials have issued formal confirmation regarding the alleged attack.