UAE's Covert Military Strikes Against Iran Revealed

A report by the Wall Street Journal reveals that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) secretly joined Israeli and US military strikes against Iran, specifically targeting a refinery on Lavan Island in the Gulf in early April. This operation has not been publicly acknowledged by the UAE.

The strikes reportedly triggered a large fire and disabled the facility's capacity. This escalation occurred during a time when US President Donald Trump was promoting a ceasefire amidst a five-week air campaign against Iran, which Iran described as an enemy attack.

In retaliation, Iran launched a barrage of missile and drone strikes against the UAE and Kuwait, utilizing a significant portion of its firepower. The UAE's military response involved launching 2,800 projectiles, far exceeding the scale of attacks on other countries, including Israel.

The conflict has severely impacted the UAE's economy, disrupting air traffic and tourism revenues, leading to layoffs and furloughs across various sectors, with a reported $120 billion wiped from the market capitalization of the Dubai and Abu Dhabi stock exchanges by the end of April.