International press reports, citing informed sources, revealed that the United Arab Emirates carried out dozens of airstrikes inside Iranian territory during recent confrontations. The sources clarified that this military role came in close coordination with the United States and Israel, with the newspaper describing this involvement as much deeper than what was previously announced in political circles.
According to leaked information, the Emirati raids began in the early days of the war and continued until last April, targeting vital sites deep within Iran. The list of targets included the islands of Qeshm and Abu Musa in the Strait of Hormuz, in addition to facilities in Bandar Abbas and the Lavan oil refinery, all the way to the famous Assaluyeh petrochemical complex.
Sources reported that the attacks were carried out based on intelligence provided by Washington and Tel Aviv, with some strikes targeting energy facilities in response to Iranian attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in the UAE. The targeting of the Assaluyeh complex, which was carried out in cooperation with Israel, sparked international criticism that prompted the United States to demand that the Israeli side stop targeting Iranian energy facilities.
Data indicates that the UAE was one of the most exposed countries in the region to Iranian attacks during the war, with Tehran launching more than 2,800 missiles and drones towards it. This number is very large, exceeding the scale of targeting faced by any other country in the region, including direct Israeli targets.
Regionally, the scale of the Emirati response led to clear tensions within the Gulf household, especially with Saudi Arabia. Riyadh expressed explicit reservations about the Emirati retaliatory operations, expressing concerns that these attacks could expand the scope of Iranian targeting to include energy facilities throughout the region, which could cause a huge jump in global oil prices.
The report revealed deep differences in views between Abu Dhabi and Riyadh, with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressing his displeasure with the Saudi position. Sources indicated that the Emirati dissatisfaction stemmed from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's refusal to engage in coordinated and direct military operations against Iranian targets during the escalation period.
The Emirati move was not limited to the military aspect, but also included strict economic measures against Iranian interests, with institutions linked to Tehran being closed in Dubai. Emirati authorities also imposed strict restrictions on entry visas and transit rights for Iranian citizens, in a step aimed at tightening the noose on one of the most important economic outlets that Iran has relied on for years.
In contrast, Tehran officially accused Abu Dhabi of participating in the military campaign led by the United States and Israel against it, and responded by targeting sensitive Emirati sites. Iranian responses included striking oil facilities in Fujairah, in addition to detecting a drone launched from Iraq that fell near the Emirati nuclear power plant, reflecting the seriousness of the confrontation.
The war conditions enhanced the level of security and military cooperation between the UAE and Israel to an unprecedented extent, with Tel Aviv sending batteries of the 'Iron Dome' system to protect Emirati airspace. The report confirmed that dozens of Israeli soldiers are still stationed inside an Emirati military facility to provide continuous technical and military support in the face of missile threats.
In the context of high-level coordination, senior Israeli officials, including Benjamin Netanyahu and the heads of Mossad and Shin Bet agencies, made secret visits to the UAE during the war. Despite this escalation, Abu Dhabi has in recent weeks begun to adopt a discourse leaning towards diplomatic solutions, seeking to encourage a peace agreement that ends the direct threats facing the energy sector and its vital facilities.
The Emirati raids targeted strategic sites inside Iran, including the islands of Qeshm and Abu Musa and the Assaluyeh petrochemical complex, in coordination with Washington and Tel Aviv.
שתף את דעתך
International Report Reveals Details of UAE Military Role in Targeting Iranian Depth