UAE Ready to Help US Open Hormuz Strait by Force

JAKARTA - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is ready to help the United States and its allies to forcibly open the Strait of Hormuz, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).

Citing a number of Arab officials, the US newspaper reported that the UAE lobbied the UN Security Council to pass a resolution authorizing the action.

The UAE also called on the US as well as European and Asian countries to form a coalition to open the strait with force.

Reporting from Sputnik, Wednesday, April 1, the UAE is considering its military involvement in securing the strait and mine clearance operations, the WSJ report said.

The UAE believes the US needs to occupy Iranian-held islands in the Strait of Hormuz, including Abu Musa Island.

In late February, the US and Israel launched attacks on targets in Iran, including the capital Tehran, which caused damage and killed civilians.

Iran retaliated by attacking Israel and US military facilities in the Middle East.

The escalation led to a de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the main route for shipping oil and liquefied natural gas to global markets.

This condition also affects oil exports and production in the Middle East, thus triggering price increases.