The UAE and Saudi Arabia had both previously launched attacks on Iran, prompting Gulf states to retaliate.

CoinFeed reported on May 13th, citing Reuters, that two Western officials and two Iranian officials familiar with the matter stated that Saudi Arabia had previously launched several undisclosed attacks against Iran in retaliation for attacks within its territory during the Middle East wars. These previously unreported attacks by Saudi Arabia demonstrate its growing boldness in countering its main regional adversary. The two Western officials stated that the attacks, carried out by the Saudi Air Force, were assessed to have occurred in late March. This comes after the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that the UAE had also launched military strikes against Iran. The actions of Saudi Arabia and the UAE together reveal a conflict whose true form remains largely hidden—a conflict in which Gulf states, attacked by Iran, are beginning to retaliate.