UAE

Explosions were heard on Qeshm Island, where air defenses had been triggered, and pro-regime protesters chanted against Israel and the UAE, following US warnings of possible strikes.

"There seems to be a very good chance that they can work something out. If we can do that without bombing the hell out of them, I would be very happy," Trump told reporters.

Iran targeted numerous countries in the region, including the UAE, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Iraq.

It’s possible the drone attack on the UAE on May 17 was an Iranian message that it will increase its list of targets in the country.

The UAE's Foreign Ministry later said that the incident was a "terrorist attack" that "constitutes a "dangerous escalation, an unacceptable act of aggression, and a direct threat."

A former senior Trump security official told the Telegraph that using UAE forces would avoid putting US troops in the line of fire.

As Israel heads to the 2026 elections, growing internal divisions may pose a greater threat than any external enemy.

The UAE attempted to convince Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and other Gulf states to coordinate a military response to Iran’s missile and drone attacks, but neighbors refused, sources told Bloomberg.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir visited the UAE secretly during Operation Roaring Lion, accompanied by a US delegation, to strengthen strategic cooperation and discuss defense against Iran.

Iran’s narrative was that some of the Gulf states hosted US forces, or in the case of the UAE and Bahrain, had signed the Abraham Accords with Israel.