Iranian Drones Target UAE Oil Facilities, Tanker

Iranian drones struck the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone in the UAE on May 4, 2026, igniting a major fire at the site. Fujairah serves as the UAE's primary oil export terminal on the Gulf of Oman and the only major UAE port that bypasses the Strait of Hormuz.

Separately, two drones hit an ADNOC tanker transiting the Strait of Hormuz that same day, an attack Qatar described as a blatant violation of international law and the principle of freedom of maritime navigation, as well as a flagrant breach of Security Council Resolution No.

2817. A senior UAE official told Israel that the country did not intend to remain silent about the attacks. 'The Iranian regime has begun attacking us - we will strike back,' the official said on May 4, 2026.

The UAE has over 130 strike aircraft, positioning it to potentially retaliate amid the escalating conflict. The Gulf Cooperation Council's Secretary-General condemned Iran's attacks on the UAE as serious aggression on May 4, 2026, specifically calling the strike on the ADNOC tanker piracy.

Data shows that 85% of all Iranian missiles and drones fired since February 28, 2026, have landed on GCC territory.

The State of Qatar strongly condemned the Iranian attack on the ADNOC tanker, calling for the unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and expressing full solidarity with the United Arab Emirates and support for all measures it may take to safeguard its assets.

Ursula von der Leyen stated on May 4, 2026, 'Today, our partner, the UAE, was once again the target of a vicious missiles and drone attacks originating from Iran. I extend my full solidarity to @MohamedBinZayed, the people of the UAE, and our partners across the Middle East.

She added, 'Security in the region has direct consequences for Europe. So we will keep working closely with our partners on de-escalation and diplomatic resolution, to bring an end to the Iranian regime’s brutal actions. Arab countries have been coordinating with Israel since the beginning of the Iran War.

The UAE has Israeli advisors on the ground helping with air defense, and an Iron Dome battery is based in the UAE. Israel deployed at least one Iron Dome battery and dozens of IDF operators to the UAE at the beginning of the conflict with Iran. An Israeli air defense system deployed to the UAE intercepted an Iranian missile on May 4, 2026, CNN reported.

During the 12-Day War, several Arab countries shot down Iranian drones aimed at Israel, and Iran struck Qatar during that period. Former President Barack Obama claimed in an interview that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tried to drag him into a war with Iran during Obama's presidency.

Obama told The New Yorker that Netanyahu made the same arguments to him as to President Donald Trump to launch a full-scale war against the Iranian regime.

'I think my prognosis was accurate,' Obama said. Obama said that with the war, Netanyahu has gotten what he wanted. He stated there is an ample record of his differences with Netanyahu. Obama added, 'That’s part of the responsibility of leadership.

The New York Times reported that Netanyahu and Mossad made a hard sell to President Trump ahead of the initial strikes on February 28, 2026. A crucial February 2026 meeting took place between Trump, Netanyahu, and top cabinet members and national security officials from both the Trump Administration and Netanyahu’s government.

During the February 2026 meeting, Israeli officials pitched Trump a regime change war that would end in near-certain victory and weaken the Iranian regime to prevent control of the Strait of Hormuz.

Mossad’s intelligence indicated that intense bombing could create conditions for the Iranian opposition to topple the regime. Mossad pointed to the prospect of Iranian Kurdish fighters opening a new front in the war to fuel the regime’s collapse. Netanyahu delivered his presentation in a confident monotone during the February 2026 meeting.

Trump told Netanyahu, 'Sounds good to me,' during the February 2026 meeting. -Israeli operation. The Trump administration denied that Israel played an outsized role in the decision to launch Operation Epic Fury, and Netanyahu denied that Israel played an outsized role in the decision to launch Operation Epic Fury.

He added, 'They were going to attack first. I felt strongly about that. So, if anything, I might have forced Israel’s hand.

Maine's Democratic governor Janet Mills suspended her campaign for the Senate last week relative to May 4, 2026. Janet Mills' exit paves the way for her rival Graham Platner in the Senate race. Graham Platner, a 41-year-old oysterman, has called for an end to Benjamin Netanyahu's war in Iran and described Israel's actions in Gaza as a genocide.