UAE says Iran fired two missiles toward its territory; Iran denies the claim
The UAE's defense ministry said air defenses detected two ballistic missiles fired from Iran on August 18, the first such incident since a May strike on Fujairah port. Both fell into the sea. Iran's foreign ministry rejected the claim as baseless. Per Reuters, Al Jazeera.
The United Arab Emirates' defense ministry said its air defenses detected two ballistic missiles launched from Iran toward the country on August 18, 2026, the first such incident reported since a May 4 strike on Fujairah port. One missile fell outside the UAE's territorial waters and the second fell within them; both landed in the sea. The ministry said the missiles targeted 'maritime traffic' based on its assessment. Iran's foreign ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected the UAE's statement early the next day, calling it baseless. In response, the UAE said it suspended all trade, commercial exchange and financial transactions with Iran until further notice. The incident came a day after a 60-day window for U.S.-Iran peace talks expired without a breakthrough, as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has been disrupted since February. Sources: Reuters, Al Jazeera.