The UAE said its air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles and drones after U.S. forces struck Iranian targets in Hormuz clashes.
The fragile ceasefire between the United States and Iran came under renewed strain on May 8 after the United Arab Emirates said its air defenses intercepted Iranian missiles and drones hours after U.S. warships exchanged fire with Iranian forces in and around the Strait of Hormuz.
The flare-up marked one of the most serious escalations since Washington and Tehran entered into a shaky ceasefire on April 8 following more than 40 days of hostilities that began with U.S. and Israeli strikes to eliminate what the U.S. government said was the threat posed by Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
The UAE Ministry of Defense said in a statement on X that the country’s air defense systems were “actively engaging with missiles and UAV threats” from Iran.
“The UAE’s air defenses are currently dealing with missile and drone attacks originating from Iran,” the ministry said, adding that sounds heard across parts of the country were caused by interception operations involving ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage in the UAE.
The latest exchange came after the U.S. military said three American guided-missile destroyers transiting the Strait of Hormuz late Thursday had come under Iranian missile, drone, and attack-boat fire.
U.S. Central Command said the USS Truxtun, USS Rafael Peralta, and USS Mason intercepted “unprovoked Iranian attacks” and launched retaliatory strikes against Iranian military infrastructure, including missile and drone launch sites, command-and-control nodes, and intelligence facilities.
“No U.S. assets were struck,” CENTCOM said, adding that American forces remain “positioned and ready to protect American forces” while not seeking escalation.
President Donald Trump took to Truth Social to say that the three destroyers had passed “very successfully” through the strait while under fire.
“There was no damage done to the three Destroyers, but great damage done to the Iranian attackers,” Trump wrote. “Missiles were shot at our Destroyers, and were easily knocked down. Likewise, drones came, and were incinerated while in the air.”
Trump said Iranian small boats involved in the assault “went to the bottom of the Sea, quickly and efficiently,” and warned Tehran that the United States would respond “a lot harder, and a lot more violently” if Iran fails to quickly sign a peace agreement.
Despite the exchange, Trump insisted the ceasefire remained intact.
“It’s just a love tap,” Trump told ABC News reporter Rachel Scott in a phone interview. “The ceasefire is going. It’s in effect.”
By Tom Ozimek
