在持续数日的导弹和无人机袭击之后，阿拉伯联合酋长国对伊朗境内目标发动了袭击。此次袭击的目标是伊朗的一处海水淡化设施，以色列官员评估认为，此次袭击的主要目的是向伊朗政权发出信号。然而，如果伊朗的袭击升级，阿联酋可能会加入军事行动，即便只是有限参与。

周日早些时候，阿联酋称伊朗对其发动了新的袭击，发射了16枚弹道导弹和117架无人机。

自战争爆发以来，伊朗已向包括阿联酋在内的多个海湾国家发射了导弹和无人机。伊朗官员最初表示，这些袭击的目标仅限于美国军事基地，但被袭击国家也报告称，平民设施也遭到破坏。其中一起事件是袭击了位于阿布扎比的以色列大使馆，造成两名以色列人轻伤。

伊朗总统马苏德·佩泽什基安向邻国发表了他所谓的道歉声明，称伊朗已决定““除非针对我们的攻击源自邻国领土，否则我们不会攻击邻国。”然而，尽管发表了这份声明，几分钟后便传出了巴林和卡塔尔遭到袭击的报道。此前，一段令人震惊的视频显示，一架无人机袭击了迪拜国际机场。

阿联酋总统穆罕默德·本·扎耶德周日发表了自战争爆发以来的首次公开声明，称阿联酋目前形势稳固，并赞扬了军队的表现。

“阿联酋局势良好。武装部队发挥了值得称赞的作用，”他说。“我们正处于战争时期，我承诺我们将履行保卫国家和人民的职责。我保证阿联酋将变得更加强大。”

阿联酋已成为海湾地区的经济中心，人们不仅担忧安全威胁，也担忧其作为国际商业首选目的地的形象可能受到损害。

金融策略师纳比勒·米拉利告诉路透社，“人们对正在发生的事情感到恐惧。这是他们第一次被迫躲藏在地下。迪拜机场是世界上最大的机场之一，不得不关闭几天。”

根据以色列国家安全研究所的数据，截至周四，伊朗已向阿联酋发射了 941 架无人机、189 枚弹道导弹和 8 枚巡航导弹。

After several days of sustained missile and drone fire, the United Arab Emirates carried out a strike inside Iran. The attack targeted an Iranian desalination facility, and Israeli officials assess that the strike was intended primarily as a signal to the Iranian regime. However, if Iranian attacks intensify, the UAE could join the military campaign, even if only in a limited capacity.

Earlier Sunday, the UAE said Iran launched a new attack against it, firing 16 ballistic missiles and 117 drones.

Since the war began, Iran has launched missiles and drones toward several Gulf states, including the UAE. Iranian officials initially said the attacks were aimed only at U.S. bases, but the countries targeted have reported damage to civilian sites as well. Among the incidents was a strike on the building housing the Israeli Embassy in Abu Dhabi, where two Israelis were lightly wounded.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued what he described as an apology to neighboring countries, saying Iran had decided that “neighboring states will not be attacked unless an attack against us originates from their territory.” Despite the statement, reports of strikes against Bahrain and Qatar emerged minutes later. Earlier, dramatic footage circulated showing a drone hitting Dubai’s international airport.

UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed issued his first public statement since the start of the war on Sunday, saying the country was in a strong position and praising the military’s performance.

“The UAE is in good condition. The armed forces have played a commendable role,” he said. “We are in a time of war, and I pledge to fulfill our duty to defend our country and our people. I promise that the UAE will emerge stronger.”

In the UAE, which has established itself as the Gulf’s economic hub, there are concerns not only about the security threat but also about potential damage to the country’s image as a preferred destination for international business.

“People are afraid of what’s happening. It’s the ⁠first time they have to hide in underground places. Dubai airport, one of the biggest in the world, has to shut down for a few days,” financial strategist Nabil Milali told Reuters.

According to data from Israel’s Institute for National Security Studies, by Thursday Iran had launched 941 drones, 189 ballistic missiles and eight cruise missiles toward the UAE.