[51719] Escalation in the Gulf: UAE reports waves of attacks from Iran

Peak tension in the Gulf: UAE under attack

The UAE Ministry of Defense reported that the country has faced a series of aerial attacks over the last two days (May 4-5, 2026), including the launch of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones. According to Vahid Online, reports included the sounding of sirens in Dubai and extensive interception attempts by air defense systems. In an additional report from Al-Arabiya Farsi it was noted that the Emirati Ministry of Defense confirmed the interception of 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles, and four drones.

The attacks caused tangible damage, as according to DW Persian, a drone strike on an energy facility in Fujairah led to a fire and the injury of three Indian citizens. The Indian Ministry of Foreign Affairs defined the attack on civilian infrastructure as "unacceptable" and called for an immediate cessation of hostile acts (Iran International report).

The UAE government defined the events as a "serious escalation" that poses a direct threat to its security, clarifying that it reserves the "full and legitimate right" to respond to the attacks (according to War News | Iran | Afghanistan). According to an analysis by DW Persian, the events mark the collapse of the fragile ceasefire between Iran and the US, which was announced only a month ago.

On the international level, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, strongly condemned the attacks and expressed solidarity with the UAE, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining a diplomatic horizon (according to Al-Arabiya Farsi). At the same time, the channel Iran and US Breaking News™ presented a more reserved narrative, noting that the exact source of the launches has not yet been independently verified.