Iran Threatens Stronger Strikes on UAE as US, Israeli Forces Deepen Presence
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 12
Iran Threatens Stronger Strikes on UAE as US, Israeli Forces Deepen Presence
6 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · May 12
Iranian officials have recast the UAE from a "neighbour" to a "hostile base," warning of harsher attacks if the US and Israel resume strikes and promising a "crushing" response.
The threat centers on Abu Dhabi's expanding ties with Washington and Israel, including thousands of US troops at al-Dhafra air base and Israeli Iron Dome batteries and personnel sent to the UAE during the war.
Iran's armed forces have also asserted jurisdiction over shipping linked to Fujairah, a key Emirati port on the Strait of Hormuz that was struck earlier this month, while Tehran denied responsibility.
The UAE has condemned Iranian attacks, kept open the option of military retaliation, and tightened pressure on Iranians at home by canceling visas, closing businesses and disrupting trade routes.
Those ruptured links are also hurting Iran, which long relied on Emirati ports for imports and is now scrambling to reroute supplies overland as a US naval blockade drives food inflation higher.
With its 'hedging' strategy in ruins, will a US defense treaty save the UAE or ignite an even greater regional conflict?
As Israeli soldiers defend Emirati skies, how does this historic deployment permanently alter the Middle East's balance of power?
Iran’s 2026 Missile Barrage on the UAE: How the Gulf’s Economic Hub Became the Epicenter of a Regional War
Overview
In early May 2026, Iran sharply escalated its military campaign against the United Arab Emirates, launching a wave of missile and drone strikes that targeted vital infrastructure such as energy facilities, ports, and tankers. This escalation followed the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the start of the US-Israel war on Iran, with the US moving to escort stranded tankers through the critical waterway. As a result, the UAE became the most heavily targeted Gulf country, raising urgent questions about the effectiveness of its air defense systems, including the Israeli-supplied Iron Dome, and highlighting the region’s growing instability.