United Arab Emirates Urges United States to Launch Multi-National Military Operation to Reclaim the Strait of Hormuz

Abu Dhabi is urging a U.S.-led coalition to forcefully reopen the Strait of Hormuz and occupy Iranian-held islands following a wave of drone attacks.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 2, 2026, 7:37 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Wall Street Journal and Reuters

The Strategic Push for a Maritime Coalition

The United Arab Emirates has initiated a high-stakes diplomatic campaign to convince the United States and its European and Asian allies to take direct military action against Iranian naval blockades. According to reports from the Wall Street Journal, Emirati officials are advocating for a robust coalition to break Iran’s current stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Abu Dhabi has expressed a specific willingness to contribute its own military assets to such an operation, marking a significant shift from its initial reservations regarding the U.S.-led escalation. The UAE’s foreign ministry emphasized that there is now a global consensus that the freedom of navigation must be restored to prevent further destabilization of the international energy market.

Proposed Occupation of Disputed Gulf Islands

A central component of the Emirati proposal involves the targeted seizure of Iranian-occupied islands within the waterway, most notably Abu Musa. Arab officials indicate that Abu Dhabi is urging the U.S. military to occupy these strategic outposts to neutralize Iran’s ability to deploy mines and launch fast-attack craft against commercial shipping. The status of Abu Musa has long been a point of contention between the UAE and the Islamic Republic, and Emirati leaders reportedly view the current conflict as a historic window to resolve these territorial disputes while permanently degrading Tehran’s maritime reach. This move would represent a significant expansion of the ground-based components of the war.

Escalating Iranian Strikes on Gulf Infrastructure

The urgency of the UAE’s request is underscored by a surge in direct Iranian attacks against neighboring Gulf states. Early Wednesday morning, drone strikes targeted fuel reservoirs at Kuwait’s international airport, resulting in a massive conflagration that disrupted regional travel. Simultaneously, authorities in Bahrain and Qatar reported separate incidents, including a projectile strike on a tanker near Doha that caused structural damage to its hull. These attacks demonstrate that Tehran is no longer confining its retaliation to U.S. and Israeli targets, but is actively striking the economic infrastructure of regional partners who host American military bases.