According to Axios, Israel secretly deployed the Iron Dome battery to the United Arab Emirates along with IDF operators. This move was a response to massive Iranian attacks involving hundreds of missiles and thousands of drones.
At the beginning of the conflict with Iran, Israel secretly deployed a battery of its advanced missile defense system, Iron Dome, to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Along with it, several dozen experienced operators from the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) arrived to ensure its operation. This information was made public on April 26 by Axios, citing sources among Israeli and American officials.
The UAE Ministry of Defense reported massive attacks from Iran, during which approximately 550 ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as over 2,200 drones, were launched. Although most of the threats were successfully intercepted, some projectiles still reached military and civilian targets, as Axios clarified. The deployment of the system was the result of a phone call between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Historic Deployment of the Iron Dome
This event is unprecedented: Israel has sent an Iron Dome battery to a third country for the first time in its history. The UAE is now the first country outside the United States and Israel itself where this system has been actively deployed, confirmed one Israeli official.
Another Israeli source reported that the system successfully intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles, proving its effectiveness. Israeli and Emirati officials emphasize that since the beginning of the conflict, the countries have maintained close coordination in both military and political spheres.
Strengthening Partnership
Israel and the UAE signed a historic peace agreement in 2020, opening a new chapter in their relations. Despite periodic disagreements, especially regarding the situation in the Gaza Strip, officials from both countries assert that their current partnership has reached an unprecedented level of closeness and trust.
Escalation of the Conflict with Iran
The war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran erupted on February 28 with massive bombings that resulted in the deaths of part of the Iranian leadership, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In response to these actions, Iran launched retaliatory strikes targeting American facilities in neighboring states.
Additionally, Iran has effectively paralyzed shipping in the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil is transported, raising serious global concerns.
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