Reuters: Saudi Arabia, UAE Secretly Bombed Iran During Gulf War

Reuters: Saudi Arabia, UAE Secretly Bombed Iran During Gulf War

Fresh revelations from multiple international media investigations have exposed how Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) allegedly carried out covert military strikes against Iran during the recent Middle East war, despite publicly distancing themselves from direct involvement in the conflict.

According to a detailed investigation by Reuters, Saudi Arabia secretly launched several retaliatory airstrikes inside Iran in late March 2026 after Iranian missiles and drones repeatedly targeted Saudi cities, airports, oil installations, and strategic infrastructure.

The report, which cited Western and Iranian officials familiar with the operations, said the attacks were conducted by the Saudi Air Force and marked the first known instance of Riyadh carrying out direct military action on Iranian territory.

Although Saudi authorities neither officially confirmed nor denied the operations, the revelations suggest a dramatic shift in the kingdom’s long-standing regional security strategy.

The covert strikes reportedly followed an intense escalation in the wider Middle East conflict, which began after joint US-Israeli military operations against Tehran earlier in the year.

During the conflict, Iran launched waves of missiles and drones across Gulf states hosting American military assets. Reports indicated that all six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) — including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Oman — experienced varying levels of attacks.

While Tehran maintained that its operations targeted US military facilities, civilian infrastructure was also affected. Airports, oil facilities, and energy infrastructure in Gulf countries reportedly suffered significant disruptions.

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The conflict also affected global trade as the strategically important Strait of Hormuz became partially paralysed, raising fears of a global oil supply crisis and surging energy prices.

Reuters reported that Iran launched more than 105 missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia between March 25 and March 31 alone. However, following Saudi Arabia’s alleged retaliatory strikes and subsequent diplomatic contacts between both countries, the number of attacks reportedly dropped significantly in early April.

Western and Iranian officials told Reuters that Riyadh quietly warned Tehran of further retaliation if attacks on the kingdom continued, while simultaneously opening diplomatic backchannels aimed at preventing a wider regional war.

The latest revelations also implicated the United Arab Emirates in the conflict.

Separate reports by The Telegraph and The Wall Street Journal claimed that Emirati forces secretly carried out attacks against Iranian targets around the same period US President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Washington and Tehran after five weeks of military confrontation.

One of the reported UAE operations allegedly targeted an oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in the Persian Gulf in early April.

The refinery strike reportedly caused significant fires and temporarily disrupted refinery operations.

Despite the allegations, Abu Dhabi consistently maintained publicly that it sought regional stability and denied taking offensive military action against Iran during the conflict.

However, reports suggested the UAE adopted a more aggressive stance behind closed doors, believing Iran needed to face direct consequences for attacks on Gulf infrastructure.

The Wall Street Journal also reported that Israel quietly assisted Emirati operations through intelligence coordination and defensive military support during the conflict.

Analysts say the alleged covert operations by Saudi Arabia and the UAE represent one of the most significant shifts in Gulf geopolitics in recent decades.

For years, Gulf monarchies largely relied on the United States for protection against Iranian threats while avoiding direct military confrontation with Tehran.

But the latest reports indicate both Saudi Arabia and the UAE may now be willing to carry out direct retaliatory strikes when their territories are attacked.

The war eventually began to de-escalate after Washington and Tehran agreed to a ceasefire on April 7, 2026, though tensions across the Middle East remain high.

The developments have continued to generate widespread international attention amid concerns that future confrontations between Iran and Gulf states could trigger broader instability across global energy markets and international shipping routes.

Reuters: Saudi Arabia, UAE Secretly Bombed Iran During Gulf War