Iran’s army has claimed it launched a drone attack on the Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates on Monday. Iranian state television reported the claim, citing a military statement.
The Iranian military said dozens of drones targeted locations where US forces and helicopters were stationed at the base. Tehran described the operation as retaliation for a recent US strike on Iran’s Larak Island.
Iran said the earlier US attack killed members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Iranian civilians. The latest operation was presented as a direct response to those deaths.
The claim has added another dangerous development to the rapidly worsening situation across the Gulf. The United States and Iran have exchanged attacks as tensions continue to rise around the strategically important Strait of Hormuz.
There was initially no independent confirmation that the Al Minhad base had been damaged or that casualties had occurred. The UAE also did not immediately confirm Iran’s claim of an attack on the base.
However, the UAE Defence Ministry later said its air force had responded to a drone detected over the country’s territorial waters while approaching from Iran. The ministry said UAE forces remained on high alert.
The UAE has also denied reports that Al Minhad Air Base was targeted by missiles. Its Defence Ministry described such reports as unfounded and urged the public to rely on official information.
Al Minhad is an important military and logistics facility in the UAE and has been associated with foreign military operations in the region. Iran’s statement specifically referred to US helicopters and personnel stationed at the base.
The latest incident follows a US strike on Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington said the operation targeted Iranian launchers that were allegedly being prepared to deploy rockets carrying sea mines into the waterway.
Iran has also reported retaliatory missile and drone operations against US military positions in Jordan. Jordanian authorities said they intercepted eight missiles after they entered the country’s airspace.
The developments have raised concerns about a wider regional escalation. The Strait of Hormuz remains particularly sensitive because it is a major route for global energy shipments.
Any further military action around the Gulf could create additional risks for shipping, energy supplies and regional security.
Iran has repeatedly said it reserves the right to respond to attacks against its forces and territory. The United States, meanwhile, continues to maintain military forces and strategic facilities across the region.
With Iran now claiming an operation targeting US-linked facilities in the UAE, attention is turning to Washington and Abu Dhabi for further responses.
The conflicting claims and limited independent information also mean that the exact impact of the reported drone operation remains unclear.
The latest episode nevertheless marks another serious escalation in the growing US-Iran confrontation and could further increase tensions across the Gulf.
