Middle East in flames: Is another country entering the war?

The UAE, it is reported, are lobbying for a UN Security Council resolution that would authorize such action, while diplomatic representatives are calling on international powers to form a coalition to secure the strategic waterway.

“Emirati diplomats have urged the United States and military powers in Europe and Asia to form a coalition to open the strait by force,” a UAE official said. The UAE also plans to provide logistical support, including mine clearance and other auxiliary operations, and is seeking control over islands in the region, including Abu Musa, which Iran has held for more than 50 years.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that there is broad global consensus on the need to preserve freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, citing previous UN resolutions and International Maritime Organization measures condemning Iranian attacks and the blockade of the strait. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states support pressure on Iran but have not yet directly deployed their militaries, while Bahrain backs a UN resolution and hosts the U.S. Navy’s Fifth Fleet.

Experts warn of the risks of UAE involvement in military action, noting that it could trigger intensified Iranian attacks on critical infrastructure and destabilize the region’s investment climate.

In recent days, Iran has stepped up attacks on the UAE, including nearly 50 ballistic and cruise missiles and drones launched on Tuesday alone, bringing the total to around 2,500 projectiles and drones since the start of the conflict.

Officials from Gulf countries emphasize that the war and Iranian attacks are reshaping the UAE’s long-standing stance, as it had previously sought to avoid being defined as a combatant, but now sees it as necessary to respond to the escalation in the region.