THE United Arab Emirates (UAE) reportedly carried out military strikes inside Iran during the recent war, according to a Wall Street Journal investigation published on 11 May, in a development that signals previously unreported Gulf involvement in the conflict.
The report said Emirati operations targeted a refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island, with the strikes taking place “around the time” that US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire following a five-week aerial campaign.
Citing unnamed sources, the Wall Street Journal said the United States had quietly welcomed the Emirati action, along with any broader participation from Gulf allies willing to join operations against Iranian targets.
Meanwhile, AFP reported that it had not independently verified the claims, and the newspaper did not provide precise timing or operational details for the reported strikes.
However, Iranian state media offered overlapping accounts of attacks on the same day. On 8 April, IRIB reported missile and drone strikes on both the UAE and Kuwait, which it said followed an earlier attack on Iranian oil facilities on Lavan Island.
According to the Iranian broadcaster, the Lavan refinery was hit at approximately 10am local time, describing it as a “cowardly attack”.
On the same day, just hours after a ceasefire reportedly took effect, the UAE said it had been targeted by 17 Iranian missiles and 35 drones, indicating rapid escalation and counterstrikes across the Gulf.
Iran’s Lavan Island facility, reportedly targeted in the strikes, is a significant energy installation and was ranked among the country’s major refineries, processing an estimated 60,000 barrels of crude oil per day as of 2020, according to US Energy Information Administration data.
The alleged Emirati involvement marks a potential expansion of Gulf participation in the conflict, raising questions over regional alignment and the extent of coordination with Washington during the hostilities.
The reported developments also highlight the fragility of the ceasefire period, with simultaneous accusations of cross-border attacks involving Iran, the UAE and Kuwait suggesting continued instability even as diplomatic efforts sought to halt the fighting.
Regional tensions remain high, with energy infrastructure and critical facilities emerging as key targets during the conflict, underscoring concerns over wider escalation in the Gulf. - May 12, 2026
