After days of Iranian missile and drone attacks on its territory, the United Arab Emirates carried out a strike on Iran on Sunday.

According to reports, the Emiratis targeted an Iranian desalination facility.

Israeli officials believe the strike is meant primarily as a warning to the Iranian regime, signaling resolve without yet fully entering the conflict, Ynet reported.

However, if Iranian attacks intensify, there is a real possibility that the UAE could join the war more directly, even if in a limited capacity.

Earlier on Sunday, the UAE announced that Iran had launched a new attack against the country, firing 16 ballistic missiles and 117 drones.

Since the outbreak of the war, Iran has launched missiles and drones at several Gulf states, including the United Arab Emirates. Iranian officials initially claimed they were targeting only American military bases, but the countries under attack have reported damage to civilian sites as well. Among the incidents reported was damage to the building housing the Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi, where two Israelis were lightly injured.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian issued what he described as an apology to neighboring countries, saying Iran had decided that “neighboring states will not be attacked unless an attack against us originates from their territory.”

Despite that statement, reports of strikes against Bahrain and Qatar surfaced shortly afterward. Earlier, dramatic footage also showed a drone striking Dubai’s massive international airport.

(YWN Israel Desk—Jerusalem)