On Friday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) experienced a new wave of attacks involving missiles and drones from Iran, occurring just hours after a prior assault. The Iranian forces targeted three US Navy destroyers in the Strait of Hormuz.
According to the UAE Ministry of Defense, there were three individuals who sustained “moderate” injuries due to the Iranian attack, which involved two ballistic missiles and three unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Authorities advised civilians to steer clear of debris from the intercepted Iranian weapons.
The defense ministry reported that, since the inception of Iran’s overt assaults on the UAE, air defense personnel have intercepted 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles, and 2,263 UAVs.
The recent Iranian offensive reportedly resulted in 10 fatalities and wounded around 230 people, affecting nationals from over 20 different countries across the Middle East and Africa.
Friday’s incident marks the third this week, with Iran’s attacks having launched numerous missiles and drones in March and April during Operation Epic Fury, targeting neighboring nations including the UAE, Israel, Qatar, Bahrain, and Saudi Arabia.
On Friday, the UAE announced plans to form a commission that will document “Iran’s acts of aggression, international crimes, and the consequences arising from these actions.”
The new committee will be led by the Attorney General of the Emirates. It aims to gather “credible evidence” and produce documentation “according to the highest legal and technical standards.” These files will be utilized when seeking compensation from Iran through international courts.
The UAE’s Foreign Ministry dismissed Iran’s justifications for the attack, asserting that the UAE’s international relations are a “matter of sovereignty” and not subject to the Iranian government’s influence.
Despite the Iranian incursions targeting US destroyers and UAE civilian areas, President Donald Trump stated that a ceasefire with Iran remains effective.
Regarding the assault on a US destroyer, President Trump remarked: “Today they made fun of us. We blew them away.”
Simultaneously, Iran charged the United States with breaching the ceasefire agreement by navigating through the Strait of Hormuz and subsequently retaliating against Iranian attacks.
Abbas Araghchi, an official from Iran’s Foreign Ministry, stated: “Every time a diplomatic option is on the table, the US opts for a reckless military approach. Is it pure coercion, or another distraction that dupes the president into further complications?”
According to the New York Times, on Friday, it was highlighted that the UAE has “strengthened its alliances with Israel and the US” as a response to Iranian provocations, even as officials like President Trump seem to downplay the recent assaults on the Emirates.
Nadim Koteich, a commentator of Emirati-Lebanese background, expressed, “There is a trust that Mr. Trump will act appropriately. What benefits his legacy aligns with what serves America’s national interests, which in turn benefit us.”
Marwan Albrossi, a researcher at the Emirates Policy Center, mentioned: “There is a growing acknowledgment, both among leadership and the public, that Iran’s aggressive focus on the UAE has turned this conflict into a moment akin to September 11.”
Sources highlighted that the Emirates, once experiencing stable ties with Tehran, were taken aback and subsequently enraged by the severity of Iran’s assault.
In the UAE, there are suspicions that Iran’s brutality may be fueled not by the presence of US troops but rather by the strengthening ties between the UAE and Israel, especially as Israelis have increased efforts to shield the UAE from Iranian drone and missile threats.
The UAE values US defense systems like the Patriot missiles and views strong ties with the US as vital for attaining independence from other Gulf nations, particularly Saudi Arabia.
“The United States has been instrumental to our safety,” stated Abdulkhalek Abdullah, an Emirati political scholar. “Our relationship with the US is a cornerstone of our nation’s stability.”
