UAE Strikes Iran Desalination Plant, Becomes First Gulf Nation To Join US-Israel Offensive: Report

Last Updated:March 08, 2026, 17:15 IST

The UAE had been contemplating it should react after Abu Dhabi, along with a host of Gulf nations, came under attack by Iran after the US-Israeli strikes on February 28.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is believed to have launched its first retaliatory attack on Iran on Sunday, hitting a desalination facility, according to reports. The UAE had long been contemplating a response to waves of Iranian missile and drone attacks.

A source familiar with the matter told the Jerusalem Post that the UAE struck a desalination plant, which is used to remove salt and other minerals from seawater or salty groundwater to produce fresh drinking water, in its first retaliatory strike on Iran.

Israeli outlet Ynet also reported that the UAE strike would represent a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict by bringing another Gulf state directly into military operations against Iran.

The UAE had been contemplating it should react after Abu Dhabi, along with a host of Gulf nations, came under attack by Iran since Israel and the US launched strikes on February 28. Last week, authorities in the UAE’s Fujairah extinguished a fire caused by debris after the interception of a drone by air defences in the Fujairah oil industry zone.

On Sunday, the UAE’s Defence Ministry said the death toll from Iran’s attacks had risen to four. It also intercepted 16 missiles launched by Iran, while a 17th fell into the sea. The UAE says it also intercepted most of Iran’s 117 drones, but four fell in UAE territory.

A Wall Street Journal report from Friday said that the UAE is considering freezing billions of dollars’ worth of assets belonging to Iran, a move which would cripple the country’s connection to the global economy.

News world UAE Strikes Iran Desalination Plant, Becomes First Gulf Nation To Join US-Israel Offensive: Report

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