Israel Deploys Iron Dome to UAE in Historic Military Cooperation

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has confirmed that Israel sent Iron Dome anti-missile batteries and personnel to the United Arab Emirates to assist in defense during the ongoing conflict with Iran. This marks the first publicly acknowledged deployment of Israeli military assets to the UAE.

"Just look at the benefits. Israel just sent them Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help operate them."
— Ambassador Mike Huckabee, Tel Aviv Conference

Deployment Details

Ambassador Huckabee made the remarks on Tuesday at the Tel Aviv Conference. The comments followed similar statements made by U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz at the Israeli UN mission the previous night.

The UAE normalized diplomatic relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, which also included Bahrain. The two countries have not issued immediate formal responses to requests for comment regarding the deployment.

Regional Context

A shaky ceasefire currently holds in the Iran war, but the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and U.S.-Iran negotiations are stalled. Since the war began, the UAE has closed Iranian government-linked sites in the country.

Related Developments

Ambassador Huckabee expressed optimism that more Gulf states would join the Abraham Accords. He stated:

"The Gulf states now understood they will have to make a choice — is it more likely they will be attacked by Iran or Israel?"

Huckabee also added:

"Israel is the appetizer, America has always been the entrée" for Iran's government.

On Thursday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi visited an air base in the UAE where Egyptian pilots and Rafael fighter jets were stationed. This marked the first acknowledgment of an Egyptian military detachment in the UAE.

Bahraini prosecutors announced on Tuesday that at least two dozen people were sentenced on charges including espionage and conspiring with Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, with three receiving life sentences.

Responses

• The UAE and Israel have not responded to requests for comment on the Iron Dome deployment.
• Iran has not responded to Huckabee's remarks but has previously alleged that Israel maintains a military presence in the Emirates.