The United Arab Emirates is reportedly considering launching military strikes against Iran’s missile and drone launch sites following sustained attacks on its territory, according to two sources familiar with the discussions cited by Axios. The talks signal a dramatic potential escalation in the widening regional conflict sparked by the United States and Israel’s bombing campaign against Iran.
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Despite not formally taking part in the war, the UAE has been one of the most targeted countries since hostilities began, enduring hundreds of missile and drone attacks targeting civilian infrastructure, energy facilities and urban centers.
The United Arab Emirates is considering an unprecedented retaliation against Iran
Officials in Abu Dhabi are considering what sources described as “active defensive measures” in response to the attacks. If carried out, Emirati strikes against Iranian territory would represent an unprecedented move for the Gulf state, which has historically relied on defense systems and international partnerships rather than direct confrontation with Tehran.
“The UAE is considering taking active defensive measures against Iran. Even though they were not involved in the war, they still withstood 800 missiles,” a source familiar with the Emirati’s policy discussions told Axios.
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“The view in the UAE is that no country in the world would be able to assess its defense posture under such circumstances,” the Axios report added.
In a statement cited in the report, the Emirati Foreign Ministry stressed that the country “maintains its right to self-defense.” The ministry added that the UAE “has not taken any decision to change its defense posture in response to repeated Iranian attacks”.
Gulf states drawn deeper into widening conflict
The attacks are part of a wider regional escalation following the launch of a US-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran. On the first day of the war, Iran launched strikes against several Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar and Bahrain. By the next day, the attacks had spread to Oman and Saudi Arabia.
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Widening strikes have begun to disrupt regional energy infrastructure. Qatar suspended most of its natural gas production following the attacks, while an Iranian drone struck the United States embassy in Riyadh on Monday.
In the United Arab Emirates, debris from intercepted missiles ignited fires in the main port of Jebel Ali, while a drone struck a luxury hotel on Dubai’s Palm Jumeirah.
The incidents underscore how quickly the conflict has spread beyond its original warring parties.
Israeli officials believe that Saudi Arabia could also respond
Diplomatic and security officials are increasingly concerned that other Gulf states may consider direct military retaliation against Iran.
Israeli officials believe Saudi Arabia may also be evaluating potential responses following attacks on its soil, according to an Axios report.
Anwar Gargash, a foreign policy adviser to the president of the United Arab Emirates, criticized Tehran’s actions in a public statement published on X.
“Iran’s attacks on the Gulf states were a miscalculation and isolated Iran at a critical juncture.”
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“Your war is not with your neighbors, and this escalation only reinforces the narrative that Iran is the primary source of danger in the region and that its missile program is a constant source of instability,” he wrote.
The extent of Iran’s missile and drone attacks
The Emirati Ministry of Defense released details on Tuesday describing the scale of the attacks.
According to the ministry, Iran fired 186 ballistic missiles towards the UAE. Of these, 172 were intercepted by air defense systems, 13 fell into the sea and one hit the territory of the Emirates.
Iran also launched 812 drones towards the country. Authorities said 755 were intercepted, while 57 hit locations in the UAE.
The attacks resulted in casualties among civilians and foreign nationals. Officials reported that three foreign nationals were killed and about 70 people were injured.
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“The UAE reserves the full right to respond to this escalation and take all necessary measures to protect its territory, citizens and residents,” the Ministry of Defense said.
A regional war with widening implications
Iran’s retaliatory strikes turned the conflict into a wide-ranging regional crisis, drawing in countries that had previously tried to avoid direct involvement.
Since the United States and Israel began their bombing campaign, Iran has launched attacks against United States military bases and other targets in the Middle East. Affected countries include the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Iraq, including the Kurdish region.
President Trump said Monday that Operation Epic Fury — the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran — is expected to last four to five weeks, suggesting the region may face a long period of instability.
