Israel Deployed Iron Dome in UAE During Iran War

Two Israeli officials and one American official told the news website Axios that, in the early days of the war with Iran, Israel deployed an Iron Dome air defense system to the United Arab Emirates and sent personnel to operate it.

According to Axios, this move shows how military, security, and intelligence cooperation between Israel and the UAE has deepened during the conflict. The presence of such a system on Emirati soil had not been publicly disclosed before. The report says that since the war began, the UAE has faced more Iranian attacks than any other country in the region. The UAE Ministry of Defense stated that Iran launched around 550 ballistic and cruise missiles, along with more than 2,200 drones, toward the country. While many of these were intercepted, some managed to hit military and civilian sites.

After facing repeated attacks, the UAE reached out to its allies for support. Israeli officials say Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, after discussions with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed, approved the deployment of an Iron Dome battery, along with interceptors and dozens of personnel, to the UAE. A senior Israeli official described this as the first time Israel had sent such a system to another country. The UAE also became the first country outside the U.S. and Israel to use the Iron Dome. Another official said the system managed to intercept dozens of Iranian missiles.

At the same time, Israeli and Emirati officials say coordination between the two countries has remained close throughout the war. The Israeli Air Force has also carried out strikes targeting short-range missiles in southern Iran to prevent further attacks on the UAE and other Persian Gulf states.

However, the presence of Israeli personnel in the UAE could be politically sensitive. Emirati officials say the ongoing war has shifted public perception, and any country helping defend the UAE is now viewed more positively. On the other hand, Netanyahu’s decision to send a defense system abroad while Israel itself was under heavy attack could attract criticism at home.

Israel and the UAE signed a peace agreement in 2020, and despite disagreements, including over Gaza, officials from both sides say their current level of cooperation is closer than ever.