According to a report published by the Wall Street Journal, the United Arab Emirates has carried out military attacks on Iran without making these actions public, becoming directly involved in a growing regional conflict.
According to sources cited by the American newspaper, the attacks have also included a strike on a refinery on the Iranian island of Lavan in the Persian Gulf, which is suspected to have taken place in early April.
This attack, according to the report, caused a large fire and significantly damaged the refinery's capacity for months.
Iranian authorities had previously stated that the facility had been hit by an "enemy attack" and in response had launched missile and drone attacks on the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait.
The report states that Iran has targeted the Emirates with over 2,800 drones and missiles, more than any other country in the region.
Analysts quoted by the Wall Street Journal have described this development as significant, emphasizing that the involvement of a Gulf Arab state as an active party in attacks on Iran could change diplomatic balances and increase tensions in the region.
According to them, this situation could also affect mediation efforts between the Gulf countries and Iran.