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Israel secretly deployed an Iron Dome air defense battery with several dozen Israeli army operators to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) early in the Iran war, marking the first time Israel had ever sent the system to another country and the first time it was used outside the United States and Israel, two Israeli officials and one U.S. official told Axios on Sunday.
The system intercepting dozens of Iranian missiles and a senior Emirati official saying of the Israeli assistance: "We are not going to forget it."
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu ordered the Israeli army to send an Iron Dome battery with interceptors and several dozen operators to the UAE following a call with Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed, Israeli officials told Axios.
The decision came as Iran was targeting the UAE more heavily than any other country in the region, with the UAE Ministry of Defense confirming it had intercepted 563 missiles, including 537 ballistic missiles and 26 cruise missiles, along with 2,256 drones, since Iran's attacks began.
"The system intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles during the deployment," a second Israeli official said.
The deployment occurred while Israel itself was taking heavy fire, a decision that, officials acknowledged, could provoke domestic backlash in Israel.
A senior Israeli official confirmed this was the first time Israel had sent an Iron Dome battery to another country and that the UAE was the first country outside the U.S. and Israel in which the system had been operationally used.
Beyond the Iron Dome deployment, the Israeli Air Force conducted numerous strikes to destroy short-range missiles positioned in southern Iran before they could strike the UAE and other Gulf countries, Israeli and Emirati officials told Axios.
Emirati officials were emphatic in their assessment of Israel's role.
"We are not going to forget it," a senior Emirati official speaking to Axios said.
A second official said: "It was a real eye-opening moment. To see who our real friends are", citing the U.S., France, UK, Italy and Australia alongside Israel as the countries that stepped up to help the UAE defend itself.
Emirati officials said the war with Iran had changed the mindset of many in the UAE: "Anyone seen as helping protect the country against Iranian attacks will be seen in a positive way."
Tareq al-Otaiba, a former UAE National Security Council official, wrote in an Arab Gulf States Institute analysis that Israel was among the countries that "have stepped up to provide real assistance to the UAE," adding: "Primarily, the United States and Israel have proved to be true allies by offering support through extensive military aid, intelligence sharing, and diplomatic backing."
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The UAE recorded the highest number of attacks of any Gulf state throughout the 41-day conflict, with 563 missiles and 2,256 drones intercepted.
Across seven Arab countries, Iran launched at least 6,413 missiles and drones in total. The UAE was followed by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Qatar and Jordan in attack volume, with Oman recording the lowest.
Israel and the UAE signed the Abraham Accords peace treaty in 2020.
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