ABU DHABI — The United Arab Emirates is reportedly carrying out covert military strikes against Iran as tensions continue escalating across the Middle East following the UAE’s dramatic exit from OPEC and growing frustration among Gulf nations over what they view as weak regional support against Iranian aggression.
According to reports first detailed by The Wall Street Journal and cited by Reuters, the UAE has secretly conducted attacks on Iranian targets, including a strike on a major refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf. The alleged attack reportedly caused major fires and crippled portions of the facility’s production capacity for months.
The UAE has not publicly confirmed the operations, and Reuters said it could not independently verify the claims.
The reports come after months of mounting hostilities between Tehran and Gulf states, with Iran accused of launching missile and drone attacks targeting UAE oil infrastructure, shipping routes, and strategic facilities during the broader regional conflict tied to Iran, Israel, and U.S. military operations.
Iran reportedly targeted the UAE more aggressively than any other Gulf nation during recent confrontations, striking energy infrastructure near Fujairah and other strategic locations tied to oil exports and military cooperation with Western allies.
The alleged covert retaliation marks a major escalation for Abu Dhabi, which has traditionally maintained a more cautious public posture toward direct conflict with Tehran despite years of regional rivalry.
The growing tensions intensified further after the UAE officially exited OPEC earlier this month, giving Abu Dhabi more freedom to expand oil production independently outside cartel restrictions.
Energy analysts say the UAE’s departure from OPEC reflected growing frustration with regional instability, pressure on shipping lanes through the Strait of Hormuz, and broader disagreements over how Gulf nations should respond to Iranian threats.
Reports also surfaced that the UAE quietly moved millions of barrels of oil through the Strait of Hormuz using covert shipping tactics after Iranian threats to disrupt Gulf exports.
Meanwhile, Gulf officials have increasingly voiced concern that neighboring Arab states have failed to provide meaningful collective support while the UAE absorbed repeated attacks tied to the regional conflict. Several reports indicated Abu Dhabi felt isolated as Iran intensified pressure across the Gulf.
Iran has warned Gulf nations against aligning with the United States and Israel, threatening severe consequences for countries assisting military operations or energy efforts viewed as hostile to Tehran.
The situation has raised fears of a wider regional war involving Gulf oil infrastructure, maritime trade routes, and energy exports critical to the global economy.
Oil markets remain on edge as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue growing. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply moves through the narrow waterway separating Iran from Gulf producers including the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Neither the White House nor UAE officials have publicly commented on the latest reports involving alleged covert operations against Iran.
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