Key facts
- Leaked emails indicate the UAE urgently pursued the acquisition of Israeli drones from Elbit Systems.
- The UAE's request intensified after a Houthi missile and drone attack on Abu Dhabi in January 2022.
- The proposed sale included Hermes 900 reconnaissance drones, SkyEye surveillance sensors, and related equipment.
- The initial value of the drone sale was reported as $154 million, with potential upgrades increasing it to $225 million.
- The leaked correspondence, obtained by a hacking group, was verified by Haaretz and Drop Site News.
Leaked emails suggest the United Arab Emirates (UAE) urgently sought advanced Israeli drones from Elbit Systems following a Houthi attack on Abu Dhabi in January 2022. The correspondence, spanning from 2021 to early 2023, indicates discussions about the sale of Hermes 900 reconnaissance drones, SkyEye wide-area surveillance sensors, ground control equipment, training, and logistical support.
The urgency for the drone sale was reportedly heightened after Yemen's Houthis launched a missile and drone attack on Abu Dhabi. The emails reveal that the Israeli defense ministry's arms development directorate was preparing a proposal for Hermes 900 drones equipped to detect missile and drone launches beyond the country's borders.
The initial value of the proposed sale was $154 million, with potential upgrades increasing the total to $225 million. The leaked communications, obtained by the hacking group Handala and verified by Haaretz and Drop Site News, do not specify whether the drones were ultimately delivered.
The UAE and Israel normalized relations under the Abraham Accords approximately two years prior to the period covered by the emails, an agreement that was promoted as a means to strengthen defense ties. The leaked documents offer a rare glimpse into the close defense cooperation between the two nations and the specific Israeli armaments that are attractive to Gulf states.