May 4, 2026 — The United Arab Emirates reported missile and drone strikes detected coming from the direction of Iran, describing the attacks as the first on its territory in weeks. The UAE Defence Ministry said four cruise missiles were detected: three were intercepted over territorial waters and a fourth fell into the sea. Authorities briefly sent a mobile-phone alert before declaring an all-clear.
The UAE accused Iran of striking the UAE-flagged oil tanker Barakah, operated by state company ADNOC, with two drones as it tried to transit the Strait of Hormuz. ADNOC said the ship was empty and there were no injuries. Fujairah port officials reported a fire at the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone after what they described as an attack originating from Iran; civil-defense teams were deployed to contain the blaze.
Iranian state-affiliated media issued a stern warning to the UAE, citing an unnamed military source who said the country and its interests could be targeted if it sided with Israel or acted against Iran. Semi-official outlets portrayed the UAE as vulnerable if it took provocative steps.
The incidents came amid heightened naval and diplomatic activity in the Gulf. US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it had contacted dozens of stalled ships to encourage resumed transits through the Strait of Hormuz under an initiative called “Project Freedom.” CENTCOM reported that two US-flagged merchant vessels had successfully transited the Strait as an initial step and that guided-missile destroyers were operating in the Arabian Gulf to support the effort.
CENTCOM’s commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, said American forces would respond to what he described as Iran’s aggressive behavior in the Strait. He also said US military helicopters had sunk six Iranian small boats that were targeting civilian vessels.
Tehran disputed some US accounts. Iranian state outlets reported missiles had struck a US warship; CENTCOM denied any US ship had been hit. Iran warned that US-guided commercial transits could breach the fragile ceasefire that has limited kinetic exchanges since April 8, although maritime restrictions and episodic incidents have continued.
Regional reactions were swift. Qatar’s foreign ministry strongly condemned what it described as a drone attack on the UAE tanker and called for the unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, citing freedom of navigation and UN Security Council Resolution 2817.
Markets reacted to the renewed tensions: Brent crude climbed above $110 per barrel at one point during Monday trading, while US West Texas Intermediate also rose, reflecting concerns about supply disruptions in the Hormuz corridor. Prices for related commodities, including liquefied natural gas, fertilizers and jet fuel, also rose amid the bottleneck.
Several countries repositioned naval assets. Germany sent the minehunter 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 to be considered subject to legal and parliamentary approval. The UK and France continued to lead efforts to organize a multinational European mission to help protect shipping, though the mission’s scope and mandate remained under discussion.
Other regional incidents were reported. 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. Pakistan confirmed it would receive 22 crew members from an Iranian ship seized by the US, describing the move as a confidence-building measure ahead of 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 its partners seek ways to restore commercial traffic. Rapid developments at sea and onshore, competing claims about strikes and counter-strikes, and diplomatic warnings leave uncertainty over whether the ceasefire will hold and how maritime security will be managed in the coming days.