LIVEIran drones and missiles attack United Arab Emirates causing fire

Iran has today launched a series of missile and drone attacks on the UAE, just hours after US president Donald Trump pledged to send American warships to ‘guide’ commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.

Violence has once again flared up in the Middle East, following several days of tensions amid a frail ceasefire between the US and Iran.

Both sides have repeatedly rejected the others’ terms for a peace deal, locking both Iran and the US into a geopolitical stalemate.

The UAE today said Iran attacked one of its petroleum industrial sites with drones and missiles.

The Iranian attack on the ⁠Fujairah Oil Industry Zone caused a fire to break out, officials said.

‘Fujairah Civil Defence teams immediately responded to the incident and are continuing their efforts to control it,’ the Fujairah media office said in a statement.

Fujairah is home to a major port, pipeline and other petroleum based installations bypassing the throttled Strait of Hormuz.

The United Arab Emirates intercepted three missiles fired from Tehran over its territorial waters, with a fourth one crashing into the sea, the Gulf country’s defence ministry said in a post on X on Monday.

The Islamic Republic is yet to comment on either of the attacks.

It comes after US President Donald Trump launched an effort on Monday to guide commercial tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, where hundreds have been stuck since the Iran war began on February 28.

Tehran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) responded by warning that any ship found violating the regime’s maritime rules will be stopped by force.

16:13

Today’s key updates

Here are the latest developments in the crisis in the Middle East

The UAE has intercepted three missiles from Tehran, with a fourth one crashing into the sea.
The UAE has also been dealing with a major fire at one of its oil ports after Iran attacked the country with drones.
The US last night launched the Project Freedom initiative, which Trump said will see the American military ‘guide’ vessels through the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military today said that it has allowed two American-flagged merchant ships through the Strait of Hormuz as part of Project Freedom.

16:01

UAE intercepts three missiles fired from Tehran

The United Arab Emirates has intercepted three missiles fired from Iran over its territorial waters, with a fourth one crashing into the sea, the Gulf country’s defence ministry said in a post on X on Monday.

The Islamic Republic is yet to comment on the attack.

It comes shortly after the country’s emergency management authority urged citizens to stay in a safe place due to a missile threat.

15:57

UAE reports large fire at major oil port following drone attack from Iran

A fire has broken out in a petroleum industrial site in Fujairah following an Iranian drone attack, authorities said.

‘Fujairah Civil Defence teams immediately responded to the incident and are continuing their efforts to control it,’ the Fujairah media office said in a statement.

Fujairah is home to a major port, pipeline and other petroleum based installations bypassing the throttled Strait of Hormuz.

The Fujairah Oil Industry Zone has been struck by Iranian drone strike

17:16

PICTURED: Iran-flagged vessel sails near anchored ship in Hormuz

TOPSHOT - In this picture obtained from Iran's ISNA news agency on May 4, 2026, the Iran-flagged tugboat Basim sails near a ship anchored in the Strait of Hormuz off Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. Iran's Revolutionary Guards on May 4 denied that any commercial ships had crossed the Strait of Hormuz, after the US military earlier said two US-flagged merchant vessels had transited through the vital waterway. (Photo by Amirhossein KHORGOOEI / ISNA / AFP via Getty Images) /

17:00

Breaking:Two expats injured in Oman after residential building targeted

Two expats in Oman have been left with moderate injured after a residential building housing employees of a company was targeted.

Oman’s state news agency (ONA) said four vehicles were also damaged in the incident in the Bukha Governorate, while nearby windows were shattered.

The government is investigative the incident, which took place near the Strait of Hormuz.

16:56

US military ‘strongly advises’ Iran to stay away from American assets

US CENTCOM chief Admiral Bradley Cooper today ‘strongly advised’ Tehran to remain clear of American military assets in the Middle East.

Following the commencement of Project Freedom, Cooper said: ‘Project Freedom is a defensive operation, and we have deployed anti-ballistic missile destroyers. Ships in the Gulf waters belong to 87 countries, and we urge ships to cross the Strait.’

16:54

Qatar ‘strongly condemns’ Iran’s ‘blatant violation of international law’

In a post to X, Qatar’s foreign ministry condemned Iran’s attack on the UAE, stating:

‘Qatar strongly condemns the Iranian attack that targeted an Emirati tanker operated by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), which was struck by two drones while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, describing it as a blatant violation of international law and the principle of freedom of maritime navigation, as well as a flagrant breach of Security Council Resolution No. 2817.

‘The Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterates the State of Qatar’s categorical rejection of using the Strait of Hormuz as a tool of pressure, calling for its unconditional reopening and affirming that freedom of navigation in this vital waterway is a firmly established principle that must not be compromised.

‘It adds that the continued closure of the Strait would jeopardize the vital interests of countries in the region. The Ministry stresses the need to halt unjustified Iranian attacks on the property of fraternal states, reaffirming the State of Qatar’s full solidarity with the United Arab Emirates and its support for all measures it may take to safeguard its assets.’

16:50

Breaking:UAE says it reserves the right to respond to ‘treacherous’ Iranian attacks

In a strongly worded statement to X, the UAE’s foreign ministry said:

‘These attacks represent a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable transgression, and a direct threat to the security, stability, and territorial integrity of the country, in contravention of the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations United Nations.

‘The UAE strongly condemns the renewed treacherous Iranian aggression using missiles and drones. The UAE stressed that it will not compromise on protecting its security and sovereignty under any circumstances, and that it reserves its full and legitimate right to respond to these attacks in a manner that ensures the protection of its sovereignty, national security, territorial integrity, citizens, residents, and visitors, in accordance with international law.

‘It also affirmed that targeting civilians and civilian objects is condemned and rejected by all legal and humanitarian standards, stressing the need to immediately halt these treacherous attacks to ensure full compliance with the cessation of all hostilities.

‘The UAE also held Iran fully responsible for these treacherous attacks and their consequences.’

16:47

UAE-bound flights on hold, diverted

Flightradar24, a plane tracking service, today said that flights bound for Dubai and Sharjah in the UAE are currently on hold or being diverted.

The UAE today came under fire from Iran, which sent a salvo of drones and missiles at the country.

16:45

Iran army chief warns US military faces ‘cruise missiles and combat drones’

The commander in chief of Iran’s army, Major General Amir Hatami, today warned the US against approaching the Strait of Hormuz.

He said in a post to X: ‘The American aircraft carriers, with the stealth of radar silence, imagined they could approach the Strait of Hormuz; but our response was fire.’

Hatami added that ‘cruise missiles and combat drones took to the skies.’

The top military officials said: ‘Every inch of these waters is within the range of our will.’

16:43