While the exact scale and number of missiles in this new wave of attacks have not yet been officially confirmed, the Interior Ministry briefly reported that the country is currently battling a “missile threat.” The strike came just a day after Tehran broke a fragile ceasefire and launched one of the fiercest attacks on its neighbors since the start of the war.
The first major coup after a month of peace
As a reminder, Iranian forces fired a total of 15 missiles yesterday, including 12 ballistic and three cruise missiles, as well as four combat drones. It was the first overt military attack on the Emirates since April 8, when a ceasefire agreement with the US and Israel came into effect. Yesterday's attacks caused chaos in the Fujairah oil zone, where a drone strike caused a major fire at a port facility and injured three Indian workers.
In addition to striking land targets, Tehran also targeted commercial ships near the Strait of Hormuz yesterday. The tanker MV Baraka, affiliated with state oil company ADNOC, was attacked, but fortunately none of the crew were injured. The Emirates strongly condemned the moves, calling them a “dangerous escalation” and a clear threat to national security, stressing that it reserves the right to a legitimate response.
The War for Control of Hormuz
The new wave of violence erupted after US President Donald Trump announced the launch of Operation Project Freedom, aimed at militarily securing the passage of merchant ships through the blockaded Strait of Hormuz. Iran declared the move a violation of the ceasefire and threatened to attack any foreign military force that tries to enter the strait.
Since the start of the US-Israeli war against Iran in late February, the Emirati air defenses have shot down more than 500 Iranian ballistic missiles and over 2,200 drones. The attacks so far have claimed 13 lives and wounded more than 200 people, showing how untenable the situation in the Gulf has become despite diplomatic efforts.
