Israel sent the United Arab Emirates an Iron Dome battery with troops to operate it early in the war with Iran, two Israeli officials and one U.S. official told Axios. The deployment, not previously made public, marks an unprecedented level of military cooperation between the two nations.
Since the conflict began, the UAE has been Iran's most frequent target. According to the Emirati ministry of defense, Tehran fired roughly 550 ballistic and cruise missiles plus more than 2,200 drones at the country. Most were intercepted, but some struck military and civilian sites.
The UAE's interceptor stockpile was quickly exhausted, driving it to seek outside help. After a call between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Emirati president, Netanyahu ordered the IDF to send one Iron Dome battery along with several dozen interceptors, Israeli officials said.
This marked the first time Israel has deployed an Iron Dome battery to another country. The move underscores how the war has deepened security and intelligence ties between Israel and the UAE, two nations that normalized relations in 2020.
The revelation may heighten tensions with Iran, which views Israeli military assets in the Gulf as a provocation. It also raises questions about whether other Gulf states might seek similar protection from Israel.