When US and Israel were raining missiles and drones on Iran last month, there was a third country who secretly carried out strikes inside Tehran. It was the same country that also faced massive damages and strikes from the Iranian side, despite no direct involvement in the war. The guesses are right, it’s UAE. The Gulf country saw major infrastructure damage in several parts, including tourist magnet Dubai. Experts and analysts debated as to why the UAE was not retaliating and now a report has confirmed that it indeed did.
Where Did UAE Attack In Iran?
A report by The Wall Street Journal, citing sources familiar with the matter, said the UAE targeted sites inside Iran during the recent escalation in the region. Among the strikes mentioned in the report was an attack on a refinery located on Iran’s Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf. According to the report, the operation took place in early April, around the same time US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire. Abu Dhabi has not yet made any statement on conducting the attacks.
🇦🇪🇮🇷 The UAE has stopped playing defense.
UAE forces have reportedly conducted active military strikes inside Iran for several days.pic.twitter.com/mrG4ch4ZdT https://t.co/yRCkp68iK8
— Mario Nawfal (@MarioNawfal) May 12, 2026
Did UAE Use Mirage 2000-9 Jets To Attack Iran?
Separately, EurAsian Times reported last month on the suspected use of Emirati Mirage 2000-9 fighter jets in the attack.
According to that report, the strike was carried out by a Mirage 2000-9 aircraft, a fighter jet operated exclusively by the UAE. Images allegedly showing the aircraft involved in the mission later circulated on social media, although their authenticity could not be independently verified.
Analysts subsequently noted that the aircraft type had been operationally confirmed to be active that morning and was technically capable of carrying out such a mission.
However, other reports citing the UAE Ministry of Defense stated that the Mirage aircraft had instead been deployed to intercept incoming Iranian missiles and drones.
Did UAE Join Iran War At Trump’s Insistence?
The report says that Washington reacted positively to UAEs reported participation in the war, particularly after other Gulf countries declined to take an active military role.
The UAE Foreign Ministry declined the newspaper’s request for comment on the reported strikes, but referred to earlier statements asserting the country’s right to respond to attacks from Iran “including militarily.”
In March, several media outlets published reports alleging that the UAE had struck an Iranian desalination plant in retaliation for Tehran’s attacks across the Gulf. Those claims sparked anger among Emirati officials, who denounced the reports as false narratives originating from Israeli media outlets.
Also Read: Iran–US-Israel War LIVE and Latest Updates
Zubair Amin is a Senior Journalist at NewsX with over seven years of experience in reporting and editorial work. He has written for leading national and international publications, including Foreign Policy Magazine, Al Jazeera, The Economic Times, The Indian Express, The Wire, Article 14, Mongabay, News9, among others. His primary focus is on international affairs, with a strong interest in US politics and policy. He also writes on West Asia, Indian polity, and constitutional issues. Zubair tweets at zubaiyr.amin
