UAE says Iran fired 2 missiles at country, as war drags on

The United Arab Emirates has accused Iran of firing two ballistic missiles towards the Gulf nation, marking the first known attack on the UAE from Iran since May. The missiles, both falling into the sea - one within the UAE's territorial waters and the other outside - were reportedly aimed at maritime traffic, according to the defence ministry.

Following the missile strikes, the UAE has halted all trade, commercial exchanges, and financial transactions with Iran, citing regional escalations threatening regional and international peace and security. Iran, however, denied firing the missiles, urging all parties to refrain from making "baseless accusations". In Dubai, residents received a missile threat alert, though the interior ministry declared the situation "safe" shortly after.

This incident follows recent strikes by Iran against UAE-linked ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The UAE's defence ministry last confirmed being attacked by Iran in May, when Tehran carried out several strikes on the country. In early May, Iran also fired 15 missiles and four drones at the UAE, with one drone targeting a nuclear power plant on UAE soil allegedly launched from Iraq.

Two Abudhabi National Oil Co. vessels were hit while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and another was hit on Friday evening. The ongoing conflict has reduced traffic through the strategic waterway, which previously carried a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas. Despite international diplomatic efforts, tensions between Tehran and Washington remain unresolved.