The United Arab Emirates said it intercepted fresh missiles and drones overnight after Iran and the United States exchanged new military strikes around the Strait of Hormuz, raising fears that the fragile
ceasefire between the two countries may be collapsing.
According to a report on Al-Jazeera, The UAE defence ministry confirmed that air defence systems were activated after aerial threats entered regional airspace late Wednesday night. Authorities said debris from intercepted projectiles had fallen in several areas and urged residents to avoid the sites. No casualties were immediately reported.
These events followed the news of retaliatory airstrikes by the US military on Iranian targets following an earlier incident that left one of their naval ships damaged in a conflict near the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command revealed that the attacks took place after “unprovoked Iranian attacks” on three Navy destroyers passing through the same region.
Missiles, drones, and attack boats were all directed at the US Navy warships, without actually hitting any of them, according to Washington.
However, Iran accused the US of breaching the ceasefire pact signed just a month ago by attacking civilians and oil facilities close to the vital maritime route. Iran’s state-run media reported explosions and retaliatory actions at the sites of Bandar Abbas, Qeshm Island, and western Tehran after the air strikes.
US President Donald Trump asserted that the ceasefire was still officially in effect even amid the ongoing hostilities. In a press conference, President Trump threatened Tehran that any additional provocation would cause “much suffering” if talks ended in failure.
The latest confrontation is likely to raise more fears about the safety of major oil transport lines since many ships have already been caught up in the dispute in the Strait of Hormuz, the key shipping passage globally. The price of crude oil reportedly increased after news broke out on the latest encounter.
The UAE has continuously claimed missile and drone attacks recently, but Iran denies its involvement in several of the incidents. Diplomatic negotiations by regional authorities and international mediators are currently underway to ensure that the conflict does not escalate beyond the region’s borders.
