Luca Nevola on Iranian strikes targeting the United Arab Emirates and the Gulf

Luca Nevola, Yemen and the Gulf Senior Analyst at ACLED, said: 

“Amid a wave of arrests targeting citizens for publishing visual content of strikes hitting United Arab Emirates assets and buildings and debates over the accuracy and authenticity of some of this material, ACLED records at least 42 successful Iranian strikes on the UAE between 28 February and 16 March¹.

“These strikes have affected at least 20 different locations in the UAE, including civilian ports and airports, residential and commercial areas, and key energy and oil trading infrastructure. ACLED records six successful strikes on oil facilities and four successful strikes on military installations. So far, all attacks combined have caused over 150 injuries and at least seven fatalities.

“Across the rest of the Gulf, we record over 80 successful strikes. Kuwait has experienced the highest death toll, with at least 11 fatalities. 

“Iran has been carrying out these strikes in retaliation for the joint US-Israeli attacks. They’ve officially been framed as targeting US facilities across the region, as well as port and energy infrastructure.”