Report says UAE carried out secret strikes on Iran, hit refinery on Lavan Island
The Wall Street Journal reported that the United Arab Emirates secretly carried out a series of attacks against Iran during the ongoing conflict involving the United States and Israel.
The newspaper said one of the attacks targeted a refinery on Lavan Island in early April, causing a large fire and shutting the facility down around the time President Donald Trump was preparing to announce a ceasefire.
According to the report, Iran later responded by launching ballistic missiles and drones at the UAE and Kuwait, while one source said Washington quietly welcomed Abu Dhabi’s involvement.
The newspaper said Iran had carried out more than 2,800 missile and drone attacks against the UAE during the conflict, causing economic disruption and prompting a shift in Emirati strategic thinking regarding Tehran.
The UAE foreign ministry did not directly comment on the allegations but referred to an earlier statement affirming Abu Dhabi’s right to respond to hostile acts.
UAE Air Force aerobatic team flies Mirage 2000-9 during Dubai Airshow, 20 November 2025 (Yin Gang/VCG via Reuters)