Israel dispatched an Iron Dome air defense battery with operational troops to the United Arab Emirates early in the Iran war, marking the first foreign deployment of the system outside the United States and Israel, Axios reported Sunday. The unprecedented move came as Iran launched approximately 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and over 2,200 drones against UAE targets.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the deployment following a call with Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed after the UAE suffered the heaviest regional attacks of the conflict. The system intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles, according to Israeli officials, while IDF operators managed the battery alongside Emirati forces.
The deployment represents deepening military integration between Abraham Accords signatories during existential threat. Israeli Air Force also conducted preemptive strikes against short-range missile positions in southern Iran to protect Gulf allies. Emirati officials acknowledged the war transformed public perception, stating anyone defending the country against Iranian attacks would be viewed positively.
Netanyahu’s decision to share critical defensive assets while Israel itself faced heavy Iranian fire carries domestic political risk. However, the strategic investment appears to have yielded significant diplomatic returns. A senior Emirati official stated, “We are not going to forget it,” characterizing the assistance as revelation of “who our real friends are.”
Former UAE national security official Tareq al-Otaiba confirmed Israel provided “real assistance” alongside American military aid, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic backing during the crisis.
