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

The United Arab Emirates said on Saturday that all actions taken by the Gulf country came within its framework of defensive measures aimed at protecting its sovereignty, civilians, and vital infrastructure, according to a statement by its foreign ministry.

The statement came after the Wall Street Journal published a story on Monday saying that the UAE carried out military operations on Iran in early ​April.

The statement by the UAE foreign ministry did not refer explicitly to the reported strikes on Iran.

(Reporting by Menna Alaa El-Din; Editing by Mark Porter)

Copyright Reuters or USA Today Network via Reuters Connect.

This story was originally published May 15, 2026 at 3:03 PM.