US confirms Israel sent Iron Dome batteries to UAE
The article frames US-Israeli military coordination against Iran through skeptical, adversarial language ('war on Iran' used repeatedly rather than 'conflict' or 'campaign'). Sources are weighted toward government confirmations and reporting that highlights regional destabilization—particularly Iran's responses and UAE infrastructure damage. The framing emphasizes UAE escalation (strikes on Lavan Island, lobbying for continued attacks) and downplays or contextualizes US-Israeli actions, while centering Iranian grievances through casualty/damage reporting.
Primary voices: elected official, state or recognized government, media outlet, corporate or institutional spokesperson
- This article does not address the specific military threat Iran's ballistic and drone arsenals pose to regional partners or Israel's stated defensive rationale for the air campaign.
- This article does not provide context on Iran's regional military activities, proxy networks, or missile development programs that prompted the US-Israeli response.
- This article does not explain what triggered the 'US-Israeli war on Iran' or the sequence of escalation leading to the February bombing campaign.
Framing may shift if UAE or Iran escalate further, or if Trump's ceasefire holds and the regional conflict de-escalates.
Anti-interventionistCharged languageInvestigation
US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee trumpets Israeli-Emirati coordination in war against Iran
This picture taken from Israel's southern frontier with the Gaza Strip shows Israeli soldiers standing near a battery of the Iron Dome air defence system, on 17 April 2024 (Jack Guez/AFP)
Israel sent Iron Dome air defence batteries along with soldiers to operate them to the UAE amid the war on Iran, US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirmed on Tuesday.
"Israel just sent them - [the UAE] - Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help them operate them. How come? Because there’s an extraordinary relationship between the UAE and Israel based on the Abraham Accords," Huckabee said at an event in Tel Aviv, referring to the 2020 agreement under which the UAE established diplomatic relations with Israel.
Huckabee’s comments mark the first on-the-record confirmation of the assistance Israel has provided to the UAE amid the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Axios reported last month that Israel sent an Iron Dome air defence system to the Gulf state, along with personnel to operate it. The Financial Times later reported that Israel also sent its Iron Beam laser defence system to the UAE to defend against Iranian drones and missiles.
After the US and Israel launched a bombing campaign against Iran in February, Tehran responded by firing rockets and drones at Israeli and US targets across the region.
New MEE newsletter: Jerusalem Dispatch
Sign up to get the latest insights and analysis on Israel-Palestine, alongside Turkey Unpacked and other MEE newsletters
The UAE was among the most heavily targeted, with authorities saying that Iran launched around 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,200 drones at the country.
But Iran also caused material damage. The Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said on Tuesday that the UAE’s main natural gas plant would only return to full capacity next year after being targeted twice by Iran. The Habshan processing facility is only operating at about 60 percent capacity, with plans to return to full capacity in 2027.
The Gulf states opposed the US war on Iran, but when the fighting started, they generally stood by the US, which is their main security partner. While Saudi Arabia has helped the US wage war on Iran by providing enhanced access, basing, and overflights, it has also backed mediation efforts by its close partner, Pakistan.
'Punish Iran': Saudi Arabia and UAE inch closer to supporting US-Israeli war
Abu Dhabi lobbied publicly and privately for the US to continue attacking Iran and tried to prevent Pakistan from bringing the US and Iran together for talks.
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that the UAE launched strikes on Iran’s Lavan Island in the Gulf in early April, around the time the US was announcing a ceasefire.
The UAE has not publicly acknowledged the operation. The strike reportedly triggered a large fire and disabled much of the facility’s capacity for months, marking a significant escalation at a time when US President Donald Trump was promoting the ceasefire after a five-week air campaign.
Iran described the incident as an “enemy attack” and responded with a barrage of missile and drone strikes against the UAE and Kuwait.
Middle East Eye delivers independent and unrivalled coverage and analysis of the Middle East, North Africa and beyond. To learn more about republishing this content and the associated fees, please fill out this form. More about MEE can be found here.
Comments
No comments yet. Be the first.
Sign in to leave a comment.