Tehran, Aug 2026 : Tensions in the Gulf escalated further on Monday after the Iranian Army claimed it launched dozens of attack drones against locations housing helicopters and US forces at the Al Minhad airbase in the United Arab Emirates. Tehran said the operation was carried out in retaliation for a US strike on Iran's Larak Island in the Strait of Hormuz.
In a statement, the Iranian Army said the drone operation was launched in the early hours of Monday in response to what it described as recent “aggression” by the United States. The statement said the strikes were intended to avenge the deaths of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps personnel and Iranian civilians who were reportedly killed on Larak Island.
The Iranian Army claimed that its forces targeted areas used by US military personnel and helicopters at Al Minhad with “dozens of attack drones.” Iran described the UAE facility as an important centre for supporting and transporting foreign military forces in the region.
The Army also declared that it remained prepared to continue operations until what it called the enemy threat was removed from the region. It warned that Iran would seek to avenge the deaths of those killed in the latest escalation.
The claim came amid a rapidly widening confrontation involving Iran, the United States and several regional countries. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had earlier announced retaliatory missile and drone operations against US military installations in the Middle East.
The UAE, meanwhile, confirmed that its air defence forces had responded to a drone detected over the country's territorial waters after approaching from the direction of Iran. The UAE Ministry of Defence said its armed forces remained on a high state of readiness to deal with potential threats.
“The Armed Forces remain on a high state of readiness to address any potential threats,” the ministry said in a statement posted on X. It added that UAE air defence systems were continuing to monitor and protect the country's airspace around the clock.
The ministry also urged residents to rely only on official sources for information and avoid spreading rumours or inaccurate reports as tensions remained high.
Iran Targets US Bases in Jordan
Earlier on Monday, the IRGC claimed responsibility for another retaliatory operation targeting US military positions in Jordan.
According to the Iranian force, missiles and drones were used against the US King Hussein and Al-Azraq air bases. The IRGC said the operation targeted technical and maintenance infrastructure as well as facilities associated with fighter aircraft.
The claimed attacks followed Sunday's US military operation against two Iranian launchers on Larak Island.
US Central Command spokesperson Tim Hawkins said American forces had observed IRGC personnel preparing to launch rockets carrying sea mines into the Strait of Hormuz. He said the US military had acted to protect the free movement of commercial shipping through the strategically important waterway.
The United States has been closely monitoring activity around the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy transit routes. Any prolonged disruption could have significant consequences for international shipping, oil supplies and regional economies.
Larak Island Strike Raises Stakes
Larak is a small Iranian island located off the coast of Bandar Abbas, east of Qeshm Island and south of Hormuz Island. Its location near the Strait of Hormuz gives it strategic importance amid the growing confrontation.
Iran's IRGC said several military personnel and civilians were killed or wounded in what it described as a US-Israeli attack on the island. Tehran has vowed retaliation for the deaths.
The US, however, has said its action was linked to preventing Iranian forces from placing sea mines in the Strait of Hormuz. Washington has previously warned that any attempt to obstruct international shipping through the waterway would trigger a strong military response.
The latest Iranian claims of attacks against US positions in the UAE and Jordan mark a significant expansion of the confrontation beyond Iranian territory. They also raise concerns for Gulf states hosting American military facilities, as they seek to prevent their territory from becoming a direct battleground.
With Iran threatening further retaliation and the United States maintaining military operations around the Strait of Hormuz, the latest developments have sharply increased the risk of a broader regional escalation. Regional governments are now closely monitoring airspace, military movements and maritime traffic as both sides signal that they remain prepared for further action.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
