The Gulf nation reportedly feels increasingly abandoned by Washington over the latter’s failure to respond to Iranian attacks on its infrastructure
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has carried out covert strikes on Iran in retaliation for attacks on its infrastructure, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, citing sources.
The strikes suggest Abu Dhabi is increasingly willing to act on its own rather than rely solely on US deterrence amid growing frustration with Washington, analysts say.
According to the report, the unacknowledged strikes included an attack on a refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in early April, just before US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire in the US-Israeli campaign against Tehran. Iran said the site was hit in an enemy attack and responded with missile and drone strikes on the UAE and Kuwait – both hosting major US bases.
The WSJ did not give dates for other alleged strikes. The UAE’s Foreign Ministry declined to comment but pointed to earlier statements asserting its right to respond – including militarily – to “unprovoked Iranian aggression.”
Since the war began, Iran has directed much of its fire at the UAE, launching more than 2,800 missiles and drones and slamming Abu Dhabi as a “hostile base” over its ties with Washington and Israel. While officials claim a roughly 95% interception rate, strikes and debris have still caused damage, casualties, and economic disruption.
Speculation about direct UAE involvement has circulated since mid-March, when unidentified jets and drones were reportedly filmed over Iran. Researchers said they resembled French Mirage fighters and Chinese Wing Loong drones – both used by the UAE.
“They are very strong in terms of precision strike, air defense, airborne surveillance, refueling, and logistics,” retired US Air Force Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula told the WSJ. “If you have that capable of an air force, why would you sit back and absorb attacks from Iran without responding?”
Some analysts say the covert action reflects growing frustration with Washington, as Gulf states feel increasingly abandoned by what they see as US failure to respond to Iranian attacks. Despite the fragile ceasefire, the UAE last week accused Iran of striking its territory, setting an oil facility in Fujairah ablaze and wounding three people – an attack Trump neither condemned nor answered.
“From the perspective of the Gulf states, it looks like the US is not prioritizing their security and basically threw the Gulf states under the bus,” Dania Thafer, director of the Gulf International Forum, told the outlet.
“If you thought you were buying American loyalty, now you’re going to think that all that an American base does is make me a target, while the US is just as likely to sell me down the river,” said retired Air Marshal Edward Stringer, former head of operations at the British Ministry of Defense.
Abdulkhaleq Abdulla, a former adviser to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, last month called for US bases to be closed, arguing they are “a burden” rather than a “strategic asset.”
The UAE has also signaled a broader break from traditional alignments beyond security. Its recent move to leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), citing an intention to pursue a more “sovereign” economic and strategic course, suggests Abu Dhabi is increasingly willing to act independently.