Iran Claims Attack on Al Minhad Air Base in UAE with Dozens of Drones
Tensions in the Gulf region have escalated once again after Iran’s military claimed to have launched an air strike against Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday morning (31/8). The attack was reported to have specifically targeted areas used for the placement of American military personnel and helicopter assets.
According to an official statement from Iran’s military, the operation involved dozens of attack drones. Tehran asserted that the primary target of the strike was the section of the base used by US forces to station personnel and equipment.
“Iran targeted the areas where US helicopters and personnel are stationed at Al Minhad Air Base in the UAE, using dozens of attack drones,” the Iranian military stated in its official release on Monday (31/8).
Iranian state media reported that the attack was a direct retaliatory action for a prior American military operation on Larak Island, a strategic location in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran claimed the US strike on Larak Island had killed a number of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) members and civilians.
A report from The Jerusalem Post noted that Tehran views the attack on Al Minhad as a proportionate response to the loss of life of its personnel and citizens within Iranian sovereign territory.
Although the claim has been widely broadcast by Iranian state media, there has been no independent confirmation to date regarding the extent of damage or the veracity of the attack on the ground. The government of the United Arab Emirates has not yet issued a direct response to Tehran’s claim.
In line with the central government, the UAE Ministry of Defence has also not released an official statement to verify or refute the reports of a drone attack within their sovereign territory. The United States military has likewise not provided any information regarding the condition of its personnel and assets at Al Minhad Air Base.
This escalation marks a new chapter in tensions between Iran and the United States in the Gulf region. Military bases used by the US in partner countries across the region have now become the most vulnerable points in the open confrontation involving Tehran and Washington.