First modification: 05/04/2026 - 14:12 Last modification: 05/05/2026 - 13:02

The United Arab Emirates authorities reported this Monday, May 4, that their defenses intercepted at least three Iranian drones and a fire at an oil plant after the launch of an unmanned aircraft from the Islamic Republic. These are the first attacks since the beginning of the truce, according to Abu Dhabi. Hours earlier, the US Central Command (CENTCOM) denied that a ship of its Navy had been hit by missiles from Tehran in the Strait of Hormuz, as noted by the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, cited by state press. The events occurred a day after Donald Trump announced a naval mission, called "Project Freedom", to escort ships stranded at the important maritime crossing.

The essentials:

Below, the main news from the Middle East this Monday, May 4, amid the fragile truces in Iran and Lebanon:

This Tuesday the press conference announced by the Pentagon with Hegseth and Caine will take place

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and General Dan Caine will hold a joint press conference this Tuesday to report on the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz. Senior commanders are expected to detail the new escort plan for commercial vessels.

Seoul to reveal causes of ship fire in Strait of Hormuz once in port

Seoul prefers to refrain for the moment from talking about the causes of the fire of a Panamanian-flagged vessel operated by a South Korean shipping company while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.

The South Korean Foreign Ministry indicated that investigations to determine the details of the incident will begin once the ship has been towed to a nearby port.

"The exact cause of the accident would be determined after the vessel is towed and its damage is assessed," the foreign ministry said in a statement.

Iran accuses the United States of having left five civilians dead in an attack on boats

A military source cited by Iranian media blamed the United States for having attacked two civilian vessels transporting goods to Iran, leaving five people dead in the offensive, all civilians.

The spokesperson assured that the ships were not speedboats of the Revolutionary Guard, as the US forces claimed, but rather civilian ships carrying goods to Iran.

The Iranian Foreign Minister: "There are no military solutions to a political crisis"

The Foreign Minister of Iran, Abbas Araqchí, criticized early this Tuesday the US military operations in the Strait of Hormuz, where the White House has mobilized its forces to allow some merchant ships to pass, and stated that this situation shows that "there are no military solutions to a political crisis."

Arab countries show solidarity with UAE after Iranian attacks and announce support for its response

The Arab League and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) showed their support for the United Arab Emirates, after the Iranian attacks that caused damage to a tanker of the Emirati state oil company, ADNOC, and caused a fire at an oil facility in Fujairah.

Ahmed Abulgueit, secretary general of the Arab League, indicated in a statement that "Arab national security is indivisible" and "strongly" condemned what he described as the "renewed and treacherous Iranian aggression" against the Emirates, the first against Gulf countries since the ceasefire came into force on April 8.

For his part, the Secretary General of the GCC, Jasem Mohamed al Budaiwi, indicated in a separate bulletin that the Iranian incursions "represent a dangerous escalation that threatens the security and stability of the region" and described them as "unacceptable and reprehensible behavior in every sense."

The two multilateral organizations expressed their support "for the measures that the United Arab Emirates may adopt to defend its security.

The barrel of Brent crude oil gains 6% and stocks fall amid the prospect of resumption of the conflict

Brent crude oil futures gained 6% this Monday, to reach $114.44, while the West Texas Intermediate indicator rose 4.4%, reaching $106.42, amid the largest escalation of tensions since the ceasefire began in the Middle East.

The rise was driven by US President Donald Trump's announcement last weekend that he would force the unblocking of the Strait of Hormuz.

The prospect of a resumption of hostilities also sent US stocks tumbling, with the Dow Jones down 1.13%, the Standard and Poors falling 0.41% and the Nasdaq losing 0.19%.

Tehran denies that the US sank six Iranian vessels

An Iranian military official denied the claim of the head of the United States Central Command, Brad Cooper, who noted that American forces had destroyed six small Iranian vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

Cooper had also said that the US military shot down drones and missiles sent by Iran, adding that he "strongly" advised Iranian forces to stay away from his country's assets while they carried out so-called Operation Freedom.

"The American commanders who are in place have all the necessary authorities to defend their units and commercial shipping," the commander assured.

Trump says two South Korean ships were hit by Iranian attacks

US President Donald Trump stated that two South Korean vessels were hit by Iranian fire while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, and assured that Seoul should join the efforts to open this sea route.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry confirmed that a fire and explosion occurred on a ship belonging to the carrier HMM, and the official Yonhap agency cited government officials as saying they were trying to verify intelligence that the ship had been attacked.

No casualties were reported among the 24 crew members, and the shipping operator added that authorities are investigating how the fire occurred in the engine room of the Panama-flagged ship.

"Our government will communicate closely with relevant countries on this matter and take necessary measures to ensure the safety of our ships and crew members within the Strait of Hormuz," the South Korean Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Iran had no premeditated plan to attack oil facilities in the United Arab Emirates: state TV

UAE Defense Ministry says Iran fired 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones.

Oman says a residential building was attacked

A residential building housing employees in Oman was attacked on Monday, authorities said, although they did not provide details of the incident.

The Ministry of Defense stated on platform Two foreigners suffered minor injuries, four vehicles were damaged and the windows of a nearby house were broken.

The authorities did not specify the origin of the attack nor identify its perpetrator. For now, they indicate that they are carrying out an investigation.

United Arab Emirates announces that it will implement distance education for students from May 5 to 8

This was reported by the Ministry of Education of the United Arab Emirates this Monday, after the country announced the first Iranian attacks since the implementation of the truce between the US and Iran.

'Iranian forces are strongly advised to keep a good distance from US military assets': US admiral

"Iran has launched some attacks against countries outside the conflict in connection with maritime traffic, including a South Korean cargo ship": Trump

"With the exception of the South Korean ship, no damage has been reported so far while passing through the Strait of Hormuz": Trump

Trump says Pete Hegseth and Dan Caine will hold press conference Tuesday morning US time on Iran

"We have shot down seven small boats, or as they like to call them, fast boats": Trump on Iran

"There is no damage when crossing the Strait of Hormuz": Donald Trump

Iranian forces official denies US Navy report of sinking of small boats from Tehran

This is reported by the state television of the Islamic Republic.

The US Army said shortly before that it destroyed six small Iranian vessels and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones fired by Tehran, within the framework of Operation "Project Freedom" to facilitate maritime transit through the Strait of Hormuz, reported Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command (CENTCOM).

Cooper said he had "strongly recommended" Iranian forces stay away from US military facilities during the operation. He added that the US blockade of Iran, which prevents the entry and exit of ships from Iranian territory, remains in force and is exceeding expectations.

United Arab Emirates reports fire at oil complex after Iranian drone attack

Authorities in Fujairah, United Arab Emirates, reported on Monday a fire in the Fujairah Oil Industrial Zone following a drone attack from Iran.

Civil defense teams were immediately deployed to control the fire, according to a statement from the Fujairah press office.

So far, Iran has not commented on the matter.

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