Saudi Arabia & UAE conducted covert attacks on Iran

Saudi Arabia conducted covert strikes on Iran during the Middle East war, Reuters reported on Wednesday, citing sources.

According to the report, the Royal Saudi Air Force launched “numerous, unpublicized” attacks on Iran in late March. One unnamed official described the strikes as tit-for-tat retaliation “for when Saudi [Arabia] was hit.

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Sources told the outlet that Saudi Arabia informed Iran in advance, and that the strikes were followed by intense diplomacy and threats of further retaliation.

The backchannel contact reportedly helped produce an informal de-escalation deal that brought the attacks to a halt.

Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the United Arab Emirates also conducted covert strikes on Iran in retaliation for attacks on UAE infrastructure in early April, shortly before the ceasefire announcement.

From the perspective of the Gulf states, it looks like the US regime is not prioritizing their security and basically threw the Gulf states under the bus, Dania Thafer, the director of the Gulf International Forum, told the WSJ.

Since the war began, Iran has directed much of its fire at the UAE, launching more than 2,800 missiles and drones and slamming Abu Dhabi as a “hostile base” over its ties with Washington and Israel.

While officials claim a roughly 95% interception rate, strikes and debris have still caused damage, casualties, and economic disruption.

Speculation about direct UAE involvement has circulated since mid-March, when unidentified jets and drones were reportedly filmed over Iran. Researchers said they resembled French Mirage fighters and Chinese Wing Loong drones – both used by the UAE.

They are very strong in terms of precision strike, air defense, airborne surveillance, refueling, and logistics, retired US Air Force Lt. Gen. Dave Deptula told the WSJ. If you have that capable of an air force, why would you sit back and absorb attacks from Iran without responding?

Some analysts say the covert action reflects growing frustration with Washington, as Gulf states feel increasingly abandoned by what they see as US failure to respond to Iranian attacks.

Despite the fragile ceasefire, the UAE last week accused Iran of striking its territory, setting an oil facility in Fujairah ablaze and wounding three people – an attack Trump neither condemned nor answered.

The UAE has also signaled a broader break from traditional alignments beyond security.

Its recent move to leave the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), citing an intention to pursue a more “sovereign” economic and strategic course, suggests Abu Dhabi is increasingly willing to act independently.

RT. com / ABC Flash Point News 2026.