Abu dhabi: The United Arab Emirates secretly carried out dozens of airstrikes against Iran during the initial days of its war with the US and Israel and continued up to the day after a ceasefire was declared in April, according to a Wall Street Journal (WSJ) report published Friday. The report indicates a significant level of coordination between the UAE, the US, and Israel, with the latter two providing intelligence support for the operations.

According to Anadolu Agency, the targets of these airstrikes included strategic locations such as islands in the Strait of Hormuz, the port city of Bandar Abbas, and significant Iranian energy infrastructures like a petrochemical complex and an island oil refinery. Some strikes were reportedly in retaliation for Iranian attacks on Emirati oil and gas infrastructure, reflecting the UAE's stance that Iran was fully responsible for these incidents, which they described as terrorist attacks.

The report further highlights that the UAE's extensive military involvement strained its relations with Saudi Arabia. The UAE expressed concerns to Washington about the potential risks of drawing regional energy facilities into the conflict, which could destabilize global oil markets. The tension led to significant geopolitical shifts, including the UAE's withdrawal from the OPEC and OPEC+ alliance in late April and an enhanced security partnership with Israel. This partnership saw Israel deploying Iron Dome air defense systems and troops to the UAE during the conflict.