The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has reacted to media reports that it is considering joining the United States and Israel in a military strike against Iran. The announcement comes amid a series of Iranian missile and drone attacks on major landmarks in the UAE, including the U.S. Consulate in Dubai and Al Dhafra Air Base in Abu Dhabi, following the U.S.-Israeli attack on the Islamic Republic since February 28.
On Tuesday morning, Axios reported that the UAE is taking unprecedented action in response to Iranian drone and missile attacks targeting the country.
Immediately after this report was published, the UAE issued a statement through its state-run news agency, Emirates News Agency (WAM), asserting that “no decision has been made to change our defense posture in response to repeated Iranian attacks.”
“The UAE is not a party to this war and does not authorize the use of its territory, territorial waters or airspace for attacks against Iran,” the UAE said in a statement.
North Korea emphasized that it possesses a legitimate right of self-defense “recognized under international law and the UN Charter.”
The statement further emphasized “the importance of journalistic responsibility” and urged media organizations to rely on official and credible sources before publishing or disseminating inaccurate or misleading reports.
UAE comes under attack amid US-Israel-Iran conflict
On February 28, a joint US-Israeli military strike, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, targeted key Iranian leadership and military bases across Iran. The airstrike killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and most of his family.
The operation has quickly escalated into a broader conflict now in its fifth day, with repeated bombings of Iranian cities and infrastructure by U.S. and Israeli forces and heavy retaliation by Iranian ballistic missiles and drones across the Middle East.
Iran’s response included attacks on Gulf countries and Western countries. The UAE has experienced several attacks as part of this retaliation. Iranian missiles and drones have struck urban areas in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, causing property damage. Iranian state media reported that 787 people have been killed so far in US and Israeli airstrikes in Iran.
Explosions were reported at important infrastructure, including Jebel Ali Port, Dubai’s main port, and Al Dhafra Air Force Base, a US military base in Abu Dhabi. In particular, an Iranian drone attacked the U.S. consulate in Dubai, causing a fire, but no injuries were reported and consulate staff was reduced. Other structures damaged include Dubai Airport and the iconic Burj Al Arab hotel.
Conflicts in the Middle East have also affected air travel, with countries including the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Israel, Iran and Iraq closing large parts of their airspace as a precaution against missile and drone threats, leading to widespread flight cancellations and disruptions in the UAE and elsewhere.
Limited flight operations cautiously resumed at Dubai and Abu Dhabi airports from Monday. But while tensions persist, airspace remains restricted and schedules have been significantly reduced.
Meanwhile, the UAE has emphasized that it is not a direct party to the conflict and sought to ease tensions, but has taken diplomatic measures such as closing its embassy in Tehran and recalling its ambassador amid rising hostilities.
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