Israel deployed 'Iron Dome' system in the UAE during war with Iran

BEIRUT — Israel sent an "Iron Dome" air defense system to the United Arab Emirates, along with soldiers tasked with operating it, at the start of the war with Iran, according to information revealed by Axios, citing two Israeli officials and one American official.

The deployment, previously undisclosed, underscores the unprecedented level of military, security, and intelligence cooperation between Tel Aviv and Abu Dhabi since the two countries signed normalization agreements in 2020.

First deployment outside Israel

Since the outbreak of the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran on Feb. 28, the UAE has been the main target of Iranian strikes in the Gulf. According to the Emirati Ministry of Defense, around 550 ballistic and cruise missiles, as well as more than 2,200 drones, were launched by Iran toward the federation. The ministry said most of these projectiles were intercepted, although some strikes reached military and civilian sites.

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In light of the scale of the attacks, Abu Dhabi requested assistance from Israel, which — by decision of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — provided an Iron Dome battery, interceptor missiles, and several dozen Israeli soldiers to install the system. The deployment reportedly followed a written exchange between Netanyahu and Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to Israeli officials cited by Axios.

Axios noted that this is the first known deployment of the Iron Dome system in a foreign country, which had up to then, only been used by Israel and the United States.

'We will not forget it'

According to one Israeli source cited, the defense system deployed in the UAE intercepted several dozen Iranian missiles. The source also said the Israeli Air Force carried out strikes in Iran to neutralize short-range missiles before they could be launched toward the UAE and other Gulf countries.

While the presence of Israeli troops on Emirati soil could be politically controversial in the Gulf, Emirati officials reportedly believe the war with Iran has reshaped perceptions, with assistance aimed at protecting the country now viewed more positively by the public.

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Israel and the United Arab Emirates normalized relations in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, brokered by the U.S. Despite political differences — particularly over the Palestinian issue following Israel’s genocidal war against the Gaza Strip following the Hamas attack of Oct. 7, 2023, and continued settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank — the partnership has remained strong and, according to officials on both sides, “has never been closer.”

In an op-ed published by the Arab Gulf States Institute, Emirati official Tarek al-Otaiba praised the support provided by Israel and the United States as “genuine assistance” based on military aid, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic backing. “We will not forget it. It was a real revelation and allowed us to see who our true friends are,” he said.