NPR News: 05-05-2026 8AM EDT

Iran launched 15 missiles and four drones at the United Arab Emirates yesterday, marking the first attack on the UAE since a ceasefire a month ago. Three people were wounded in a drone strike on an oil facility in the Emirate of Fujairah, prompting the UAE government to shift schools online for the rest of the week due to ongoing threats. These strikes coincided with the US military's initiation of Project Freedom, an armed operation to secure commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. US Central Command reported successfully escorting two US-flagged merchant vessels through the strait. President Trump stated that seven Iranian speedboats were shot down during the transit, killing five people aboard them. Pentagon officials planned a press conference later that hour to address the developments. Shipping companies remain cautious, with no changes to their risk assessments yet; experts like Piers Greg Morris suggest monitoring three factors: whether large numbers of ships attempt the crossing, if Iran continues firing, and whether the US can reliably protect them.