Over the last two months, the United Arab Emirates has carried out multiple military strikes against Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported on May 11, citing people familiar with the matter. The Journal reported that one of those strikes included an April attack against a refinery on Iran's Lavan island.

The United Arab Emirates has been the focus of Iranian strikes against Gulf assets since the war broke out on Feb. 28, enduring attacks by more than 2,800 drones and missiles. Among the larger Gulf Cooperation Council countries, the United Arab Emirates has the closest relationship with Ethiopia, a regional rival of Eritrea, which has close ties with Iran. Axios reported in April that Israel sent an Iron Dome air defense system and troops to operate it to the United Arab Emirates during the early days of the Iran war.