UAE Launched Strikes On Iran After Ceasefire Announcement: WSJ Report

UAE Launched Strikes On Iran After Ceasefire Announcement: WSJ Report

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Last Updated: May 30, 2026, 03:50 IST

The strikes mark a significant departure from its policy and reflect a far more aggressive posture than that adopted by several other Gulf nations.

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According to the newspaper, the strike on the Asaluyeh energy hub triggered international concern and backlash, prompting the United States to pressure Israel to halt attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure over fears of a wider regional escalation. (AFP file)

The United Arab Emirates carried out retaliatory airstrikes inside Iran days after the US-brokered ceasefire was announced in April, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, revealing a far deeper Emirati involvement in the conflict than previously known.

The report said the strikes targeted several strategic Iranian locations, including a refinery on Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf, Qeshm and Abu Musa islands near the Strait of Hormuz, the port city of Bandar Abbas, and the massive Asaluyeh petrochemical complex.

According to the newspaper, the strike on the Asaluyeh energy hub triggered international concern and backlash, prompting the United States to pressure Israel to halt attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure over fears of a wider regional escalation.

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Citing sources familiar with the matter, the report said the UAE coordinated closely with the United States and Israel as part of a broader military campaign against Iran that continued for weeks even after the ceasefire announcement.

The revelations mark a significant shift in the UAE’s regional posture and indicate a much more aggressive role in the conflict than publicly acknowledged earlier. The move also sharply contrasts with the cautious approach adopted by several other Gulf states, many of which tried to avoid direct involvement amid fears of Iranian retaliation. Before the war broke out, Gulf nations had publicly maintained that they would not allow their territory or airspace to be used for military operations against Iran.

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The report further claimed that UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed expressed frustration with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the early phase of the conflict after Riyadh refused to join the anti-Iran military campaign.

Saudi Arabia, according to the report, later conveyed concerns to Washington that the Emirati strikes were increasing the risk of retaliatory attacks on energy facilities across the Gulf and urged the US to help stop the coordinated military actions.

UAE Losses In West Asia Conflict

Iranian strikes against the United Arab Emirates caused significant human, infrastructural and economic damage after Tehran launched a massive barrage of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and suicide drones targeting the Gulf nation, a key US ally that also hosts American military bases. More than 2,800 projectiles were reportedly fired during the conflict, overwhelming parts of the UAE’s air defence network despite interceptions by advanced US-supplied THAAD and Patriot systems.

At least 13 people, including two Emirati military personnel and 10 expatriate workers, were killed, while more than 224 others were injured. Key infrastructure was also hit during the attacks. Dubai International Airport’s Terminal 3 suffered damage in a strike on March 1, forcing evacuations and injuring staff members. Fires broke out at Jebel Ali Port after intercepted debris landed in the area, while two oil storage tanks burned for days at the Fujairah Petroleum Hub, disrupting fuel and shipping operations.

The conflict also dealt a major blow to the UAE economy. Financial estimates showed nearly $120 billion was wiped out from the Dubai and Abu Dhabi stock exchanges as investors pulled money out amid fears of further escalation. Temporary shutdowns and repeated missile alerts at Dubai International Airport severely disrupted aviation operations, with analysts estimating losses of nearly $1 million for every minute runway activity remained suspended.

The real estate sector also weakened sharply, with property transactions falling and housing prices dropping by as much as 15 per cent in some areas. At the same time, instability around the Strait of Hormuz disrupted maritime trade and energy flows across the Gulf.

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) estimated that the broader regional conflict could reduce the UAE’s GDP by nearly 5 per cent, marking the country’s worst economic shock since the Covid-19 pandemic and undermining its image as a secure global financial and business hub.

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Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: May 30, 2026, 02:56 IST

News world UAE Launched Strikes On Iran After Ceasefire Announcement: WSJ Report

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