UAE says Iran attacked for second straight day, Tehran denies

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has said that it came under missile and drone attacks for a second consecutive day on Tuesday, May 5. UAE Defence Ministry claimed that Iran attacked, while Tehran has firmly rejected the allegation.”The UAE’s air defences are currently dealing with missile and drone attacks originating from Iran,” the UAE Ministry said in a statement on X (formerly Twitter).

It added that the sounds heard in scattered areas of the country were the result of the UAE’s air defence systems intercepting “ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones”.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) denied the claims stating that its forces “have not carried out any missile or drone operations against the UAE in recent days”.“If any action had been taken, we would have announced it firmly and clearly. Therefore, the report of that country’s Ministry of Defense is absolutely denied and is devoid of any truth,” the IRGC said in a statement, reported Fars news agency, as per Al Jazeera.

Also Read: Iran US War Live UpdatesWhat happened in Fujairah?

According to Emirati authorities, the latest incident follows an earlier attack on Monday, May 4, when three Indian nationals were injured and a drone-triggered fire broke out at a major oil facility in Fujairah.

India also condemned the attacks on civilians as “unacceptable”.The full extent of damage from Tuesday’s reported strikes was not immediately confirmed.

The Fujairah terminal plays a critical role in the UAE’s energy infrastructure, handling nearly half of the country’s export capacity and allowing shipments to bypass the Strait of Hormuz.

Tensions linked to Strait of Hormuz crisis

The escalation comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global energy supplies pass.

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Washington recently launched “Project Freedom” to safeguard commercial shipping in the region. However, US President Donald Trump announced a pause on that on Wednesday, May 6.

In response to earlier US-Israeli strikes, Iran has reportedly targeted or threatened vessels in the strategic waterway, triggering volatility in global energy markets. The US subsequently imposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports in April, further straining the situation.

Despite exchanges of fire, US officials maintained that the ceasefire agreed on April 8 had not been formally breached, with Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth stating, “We’re not looking for a fight.”