UAE says all of its actions were defensive measures to protect sovereignty, vital infrastructure

The United Arab Emirates said on Saturday that all measures it had taken were defensive actions aimed at protecting its sovereignty, civilians and vital infrastructure.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued the statement days after a Wall Street Journal report claimed the UAE carried out military operations against Iran in early April.

What defensive measures has the UAE taken against Iran?

The UAE says every action it has taken falls within its legitimate right to defend national security. Iran launched nearly 3,000 ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones toward the UAE, according to the ministry, causing civilian casualties, injuries and damage to infrastructure.

The UAE says those attacks constituted a clear violation of its sovereignty and a direct threat to regional stability.

What prompted the UAE's statement?

The Wall Street Journal published a report earlier this week claiming the UAE conducted military operations against Iran in early April.

The UAE's foreign ministry did not address those specific claims directly, but strongly condemned what it described as unprovoked Iranian attacks and threats targeting the UAE and other countries in the region. The ministry also rejected what it called attempts to spread "malicious narratives and allegations" about the UAE's actions.

The ministry stressed that such efforts would neither undermine the UAE's principled positions nor deter it from protecting its national interests and independent decision-making. It added that the UAE reserves its full sovereign, legal, diplomatic and military right to respond to any threat or hostile act. The statement reaffirmed the country's commitment to regional peace and stability.

How is the UAE coordinating with regional partners?

The UAE said it continues to coordinate closely with Gulf Cooperation Council member states, as well as regional and international partners, to support stability across the Middle East.

The ministry said those efforts were aimed at shielding regional populations from the repercussions of ongoing conflicts. The statement came one day after UAE Deputy Foreign Minister Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar accused Iran of obstructing international maritime routes, including the Strait of Hormuz, at the BRICS foreign ministers' meeting in Delhi.