Emirati sources deny ‘inappropriate’ Israeli reports of UAE strike on Iran

After Hebrew media reports emerged alleging that the United Arab Emirates had carried out a “symbolic” military strike in Iran, Emirati sources deny this as “fake news” and “inappropriate.”

The reports cited anonymous Israeli officials saying that the UAE had struck an desalination plant in Iran after consultations between Israeli and Emirati officials over the weekend, in response to Tehran’s retaliatory strikes across the Gulf during the ongoing US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran.

“This is fake news. When we do something, we’ve the courage to announce it,” UAE Federal National Council Defense Affairs, Interior and Foreign Affairs chairman Rashid Al Nuaimi writes on X.

Separately, an Emirati source tells The Times of Israel: “We categorically deny this nonsense. If the UAE does something or takes an action, it will announce it and make it public.”

“The UAE is not in the business of denying or approving rumors… It is inappropriate for so-called ‘Israeli senior officials’ to talk on our behalf and/or spread rumors about UAE actions or intentions. The UAE doesn’t make statements on other countries’ actions nor their intentions, so we expect our friendly countries’ officials to refrain from doing so,” the source adds.

The Emirati foreign ministry does not immediately respond to a request for comment on the reports.

Meanwhile, the UAE defense ministry says that the death toll from Iranian drone and missile attacks on the country has risen to four, in a post on X.

UAE air defences intercept 16 ballistic missiles, 113 UAVs

UAE air defences today (8th March, 2026) detected 17 ballistic missiles, of which 16 were destroyed, while 1 missile fell into the sea. A total of 117 UAVs were also detected, with 113 intercepted, while 4 UAVs fell… pic.twitter.com/BTikC5pRyd

— وزارة الدفاع |MOD UAE (@modgovae) March 8, 2026

“These attacks resulted in 4 deaths among Pakistani, Nepalese and Bangladeshi nationals, and 112 people sustained moderate to minor injuries,” the ministry says.

The ministry says that it shot down 16 of 17 ballistic missiles from Iran today and one fell into the sea, and that a total of 117 UAVs were detected today, with 113 intercepted while four fell within the country’s territory.