May 4, 2026 — The United Arab Emirates reported the first missile and drone attacks on its territory in weeks, saying multiple cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles were detected coming from the direction of Iran. The UAE Defense Ministry said four cruise missiles were detected; three were intercepted over territorial waters and a fourth fell into the sea. Authorities also issued a short-lived mobile phone alert before announcing an all-clear.
The UAE accused Iran of striking an empty UAE-flagged oil tanker, the Barakah, operated by state oil company ADNOC, with two drones as it attempted to transit the Strait of Hormuz. ADNOC said no injuries were reported. Fujairah port officials reported a fire at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone following what they described as an attack originating from Iran; civil defense teams were deployed to contain the blaze.
Iranian state-affiliated media warned the UAE against “making a misstep,” citing an unnamed informed Iranian military source that said the UAE and its interests could be targeted if it sided with Israel or acted against Iran. The semi-official Tasnim agency said the UAE “is sitting in a very fragile glass house.”
The incidents unfolded amid increased naval and diplomatic activity in the Gulf. The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had reached out to “dozens” of stalled ships to encourage traffic through the Strait of Hormuz under a US initiative dubbed “Project Freedom.” CENTCOM said two US-flagged merchant vessels had successfully transited the Strait as a first step, and that guided-missile destroyers were operating in the Arabian Gulf in support of the effort. CENTCOM’s commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, said American forces were “simply going to respond” to what he described as Iran’s aggressive behavior in the Strait; he also said military helicopters had sunk six Iranian small boats that were targeting civilian vessels.
Tehran, meanwhile, disputed some US claims. Iranian state outlets reported missiles had struck a US warship; CENTCOM denied any US ship had been hit. Iran has warned that US guidance of commercial ships through the Strait could violate the fragile ceasefire that has limited kinetic exchanges since April 8, though maritime restrictions and incidents have continued.
Regional and international reactions included Qatar’s foreign ministry strongly condemning what it called the drone attack on the UAE tanker and calling for the unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, citing freedom of navigation and UN Security Council Resolution 2817. Oil markets reacted to the renewed tensions: Brent crude rose sharply during Monday’s trading, trading above $110 per barrel at one point, while US West Texas Intermediate also climbed, reflecting supply concerns linked to disruptions in the Hormuz corridor. Related commodities such as LNG, fertilizers and jet fuel have also seen price rises amid the bottleneck.
Several countries have repositioned naval assets. Germany sent the mine-hunter FGS Fulda to the Mediterranean on forward deployment to be available for a potential European mission to secure maritime transport in the Strait, with additional assets expected if needed and subject to legal and parliamentary authorization. The UK and France continue to lead efforts to organize a multinational European mission to help secure shipping, though the scope and mandate remain under discussion.
Other incidents were reported in the wider region. South Korea said it was investigating a fire and explosion aboard an HMM-operated ship anchored in the Strait of Hormuz; there were no confirmed casualties among South Korean nationals. Separately, Pakistan confirmed it would receive 22 crew members from an Iranian ship seized by the US, described as a confidence-building measure before returning the crew to Iran.
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz remains tense: Iran has restricted many non-Iranian vessels since late February and has threatened action against unauthorized passage, while the US and allies are seeking ways to restore commercial traffic. Competing claims and rapid developments at sea and onshore leave uncertainty over whether the ceasefire will hold and how maritime security will be managed in the coming days.