UAE Reports Drone, Missile Attack After US Says It Traded Fire With Iran
Three people were wounded after air defences engaged missiles and drones.
Dubai: The United Arab Emirates said it responded to an Iranian missile and drone attack on Friday, as tensions escalated despite a month-old ceasefire in the region.
The UAE defence ministry said three people were wounded after air defences engaged two ballistic missiles and three drones launched by Iran. It was not clear if all projectiles were intercepted, and authorities advised residents to avoid debris.
The United States said it intercepted attacks on three Navy ships and carried out strikes on Iranian military facilities in the Strait of Hormuz late Thursday. The US military said none of its vessels were hit. Donald Trump described the exchange as a “love tap” but warned of further action if Iran does not agree to reopen the strait and scale back its nuclear programme.
Iran’s foreign ministry termed the US strikes a “clear violation” of the ceasefire. It said the attacks targeted oil tankers near the port of Jask and coastal areas. Iranian state media reported exchanges of fire on Qeshm Island and defensive activity in western Tehran.
Pakistan said it was continuing mediation efforts. Shehbaz Sharif said contacts with both sides were ongoing to sustain the ceasefire and reach an agreement.
Separately, talks between Israel and Lebanon are scheduled to resume in Washington on May 14 and 15, according to a US official. The ceasefire involving Iran-backed Hezbollah has also seen repeated violations. In the maritime sector, a Chinese-crewed oil tanker was attacked near the strait, with no casualties reported. China expressed concern over the incident.
Shipping data firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence reported that Iran has set up a new body, the Persian Gulf Strait Authority, to regulate and tax vessels passing through the strait. The move has raised concerns over international shipping, with vessels delayed in the Persian Gulf.
Maritime experts said such controls could violate the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which guarantees passage through territorial waters. The US has warned it may impose sanctions on companies complying with Iranian demands.
The US and its Gulf allies are seeking action at the United Nations Security Council, though a previous resolution was blocked by Russia and China.
