Key facts
- Israel deployed an Iron Dome battery and personnel to the UAE to defend against Iranian attacks.
- Israeli Transportation Minister Miri Regev publicly confirmed the deployment.
- US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee previously confirmed the move and praised the UAE.
- The UAE has been targeted by hundreds of Iranian missiles and drones.
- The deployment highlights deepening Israel-UAE relations amid regional conflict.
Israel deployed an Iron Dome missile defense battery and personnel to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) early in the conflict with Iran, according to Israeli officials. Transportation Minister Miri Regev publicly confirmed the move, marking the first such acknowledgement from an Israeli official. The deployment was previously reported by Axios and confirmed by US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee.
Huckabee lauded the UAE's relationship with Israel, calling Abu Dhabi an "example" of strong ties between the nations, particularly in light of the Abraham Accords. He revealed that Israel sent the Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help operate them, emphasizing the "extraordinary relationship" between the two countries. The UAE has been a significant target in the conflict, with its defense ministry reporting as many as 550 Iranian missiles and 2,200 drone attacks.
Amid the ongoing conflict, Huckabee urged Gulf states to "pick a side" between the US/Israel and Iran, stating that Iran is the aggressor. This confirmation of the Iron Dome deployment underscores the deepening security cooperation between Israel and the UAE in the face of regional hostilities.