Iran live updates: UAE says it intercepted Iranian missiles and drones
Iran live updates: UAE says it intercepted Iranian missiles and drones
DAVID BRENNAN and MEREDITH DELISOTue, May 5, 2026 at 7:04 AM UTC
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President Donald Trump announced "major combat operations" against Iran on Feb. 28, with massive joint U.S.-Israeli strikes targeting military, government and infrastructure sites.
Following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, initial U.S.-Iran talks in Pakistan in April failed to reach a peace deal.
Trump later announced the open-ended extension of the ceasefire and the continuation of a U.S. blockade until negotiations are concluded "one way or the other."
Latest Developments
May 5, 3:04 AMUS, UAE should be wary of 'quagmire,' Araghchi says
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a post to X on Monday that there can be "no military solution to a political crisis" in the Strait of Hormuz."As talks are making progress with Pakistan's gracious effort, the U.S. should be wary of being dragged back into quagmire by ill-wishers. So should the UAE," Araghchi wrote."Project Freedom is Project Deadlock," the foreign minister said, referring to the U.S. military mission to escort stranded shipping out of the strategic waterway that began on Monday.
ABC News - PHOTO: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi appears on ABC News' "This Week" on March 1, 2026
-ABC News' Will Gretsky
May 5, 2:53 AMMBS condemns Iranian attacks on UAE
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman -- colloquially known as MBS -- spoke with United Arab Emirates counterpart Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Monday after the UAE reported fresh Iranian drone and missile attacks, according to a readout from the Saudi Foreign Ministry.MBS "expressed the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's strong condemnation and denunciation of the unjustified Iranian attacks targeting the United Arab Emirates," the readout said. "He reaffirmed the Kingdom's support for the UAE in its defense of its security and stability."-ABC News' Will Gretsky
May 4, 4:59 PMUS mission to the UAE warns of 'potential aerial threats'
The U.S. mission to the United Arab Emirates issued a security alert moments ago advising Americans in the country of "potential aerial threats." This marks the first notice from the embassy since the country's government issued warnings about incoming attacks from Iran more than five hours ago. "On May 4, 2026, the UAE Ministry of Interior issued several public alerts via mobile phone that warned of potential aerial threats," the alert from the U.S. embassy reads. "The U.S. Mission to the UAE is monitoring the situation and urges Americans to please follow instructions from UAE authorities and be prepared to take shelter if instructed." The alert makes no mention of Iran or the specifics of those aerial threats. -ABC News' Shannon K. Kingston
May 4, 4:14 PMIran's Foreign Ministry: 'We had to defend ourselves'
Following strikes on the United Arab Emirates on Monday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei told the Gulf states that Iran has "no animosity" toward them but "had to defend" itself. "We feel no animosity towards any countries in the region. The only reason we have to target their territories is simply because we had to defend ourselves against an act of aggression by the United States and Israel," Baghaei said in an interview on Iranian state TV. "Now it's an open secret that the United States used its military bases, its military assets and used the logistical support provided by some of these countries to further their act of aggression against Iran," he continued. "So under international law, these countries are regarded as accomplices, as complicit in this act of aggression."
May 4, 3:54 PMUAE says it 'engaged' with 15 Iranian missiles
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The United Arab Emirates said its air defense systems engaged with 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones launched from Iran on Monday. The attacks resulted in three moderate injuries, the country's Ministry of Defense said, adding that it "remains fully prepared and ready to deal with any threats and will firmly confront anything that aims to undermine the security of the country."
May 4, 3:20 PMTrump says Iran attacks 'not heavy firing,' stops short of saying ceasefire was violated
President Donald Trump stopped short of saying the U.S.-Iran ceasefire has been violated, following reports of Iranian attacks on commercial vessels near the Strait of Hormuz and on oil infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates."[It was] not heavy firing," Trump said in a phone call with ABC News chief Washington correspondent Jonathan Karl when asked if the ceasefire had been violated. "We'll let you know. Ships are moving. You know, we moved quite a few last night -- big ones. There was no firing. I guess there has been some recently. I'm looking into it."
Mandel Ngan/AFP via Getty Images - PHOTO: President Donald Trump and Donald Trump Jr. walk on the south lawn toward the White House in Washington, May 3, 2026.
Over the past several hours, Iran fired on a South Korean ship near the Strait of Hormuz and fired missiles and drones on the UAE. And, according to U.S. Central Command, U.S. forces fired on six Iranian fast boats and intercepted several Iranian missiles and drones.Trump told ABC News that Iran "better hope [the ceasefire] remains in effect. The best thing that can happen to them is that we keep it in effect."And what happens if the ceasefire is broken?"I'll let you know, like I'll let everyone else know," he said. "We just heard about this, and we'll find out about it. What should happen is South Korea should get involved. It was a South Korean ship that got hit. And I would think, if you have a ship that's hit, you should immediately send some people."Asked about the attacks on the UAE, Trump said the missiles and drones were "shot down for the most part.""One got through. Not huge damage," he said.On what this all means about the prospects for ending the war, Trump said, "We have it under control. One way or the other, we win. And you know why, Jon? I always win. You found that out a long time ago."
May 4, 2:08 PMUAE says it reserves 'legitimate right' to respond to Iranian attacks
The United Arab Emirates' foreign affairs ministry said it "reserves its full and legitimate right to respond to" Iranian missile and drone attacks, which it said targeted civilian sites and facilities. The ministry called Monday's attacks, which mark the first time any Gulf country has come under significant attack by Iran since the ceasefire took hold in early April, a "dangerous escalation and an unacceptable transgression." The White House did not immediately respond to ABC News when asked about the attacks on the UAE and what they mean for the ceasefire. When asked about the attacks during an update on "Project Freedom," Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, told reporters that he would "refer to the UAE on that." "That's really a matter under their national jurisdiction and not part of our project operation," he said.
May 4, 1:58 PMTrump says Iran violated 'Project Freedom' by hitting South Korean ship
President Donald Trump said that Iran is "taking shots" at ships from countries not involved with the U.S.-Iran conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, in violation of "Project Freedom." "Iran has taken some shots at unrelated Nations with respect to the Ship Movement, PROJECT FREEDOM, including a South Korean Cargo Ship," Trump posted on his social media platform. "Other than the South Korean Ship, there has been, at this moment, no damage going through the Strait," he added. -ABC News' Isabella Murray
May 4, 1:39 PM6 Iranian boats eliminated during 'Project Freedom': CENTCOM
The U.S. took out six small Iranian boats that were "threatening commercial shipping" on Monday, Adm. Brad Cooper, the head of U.S. Central Command, told reporters during an update on "Project Freedom."Cooper said that over the past 12 hours, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has been launching missiles, drones and small boats toward ships the U.S. was protecting in the Strait of Hormuz, and that the U.S. "defeated each and every one of those threats" through defensive munitions. AH-64 Apache attack helicopters and others were used to "eliminate" the boats, he said.No U.S. military ships have been struck, Cooper said.
U.S. Central Command - PHOTO: Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, flew over regional waters in and near the Strait of Hormuz in an AH-64 Apache helicopter, May 3, 2026 on the eve of U.S. military support for Project Freedom.
May 4, 12:25 PMUAE says it's intercepting Iranian missiles, drones
The United Arab Emirates' Ministry of Defense said it is "currently engaging" with air attacks from Iran, and that its air defense systems were intercepting ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and drones.
This marks the first time the UAE, or any Gulf country, has come under significant attack by Iran since the ceasefire took hold in early April.Multiple flights headed to the UAE are now diverting to Muscat, Oman, amid reports of drone and missile attacks, according to Flightradar24 data.Amid the reports, the British military’s United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center also said a cargo ship was on fire off the coast of the UAE. The cause of the fire was not yet confirmed.
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