UAE carried out ‘covert’ attacks against Iran during US-Israeli aggression: Report

The United Arab Emirates conducted a series of “covert” attacks against Iran during the latest bout of US-Israeli aggression against the Islamic Republic, according to a report.

The Wall Street Journal carried the report on Monday, citing anonymous sources familiar with the matter.

According to the newspaper, one of the attacks targeted a refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in early April. The strike occurred around the time US President Donald Trump was preparing to announce a ceasefire with Iran. The attack reportedly caused a large fire and forced the refinery offline.

For Tehran, however, the attacks were hardly as "covert" as the aggressors had assumed.

Throughout the war, Iranian officials repeatedly warned that the UAE was playing an active role in the aggression by hosting US and Israeli military presence on its territory, providing intelligence on Iranian individuals and targets, and making its airbases available to the US for attacks against Iran.

‘US pleased’

One anonymous source cited by the newspaper said the United States quietly welcomed the UAE’s contribution to the aggression in such a manner.

Washington and Tel Aviv carried out assaults against Iran from February 28 to April 7.

The aggressors extensively used American outposts, troops, and equipment based in the Persian Gulf littoral states, including the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia, as well as Jordan, to attack Iran.

Iran retaliated by staging at least 100 waves of decisive retaliatory operations against strategic American and Israeli targets across those states as well as throughout the occupied territories.

Tehran has repeatedly warned states aiding the attackers against continuing to allow their soil to be used as a launchpad for the unlawful aggression.

Persian Gulf officials quoted by The Journal, however, said the retaliation has “prompted a fundamental shift in the country (the UAE)’s strategic outlook” to one that is much more hostile to Iran.

The report came amid Emirati officials’ repeated accusations against Iran of “deliberate” and “unwarranted” targeting of their country.

The Islamic Republic has categorically rejected the claims, underlining that its retaliatory measures were solely aimed at hostile targets inside the Emirates.

Tehran has also unequivocally cautioned Abu Dhabi that it reserves the right to respond in kind to Abu Dhabi’s sustained contribution to the aggression targeting the Iranian nation.

Iran has warned the United Arab Emirates that any military action launched from its soil against Iranian territory will be met with a “crushing and regretful” response.

“If any action is taken from Emirati soil against Iranian islands, ports, or coastlines, we will deliver a crushing and regretful response," the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Iran's highest military command center for coordinating the armed forces, said in a statement last week.

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