According to a report by the Financial Times, Israel's security establishment rushed to send the United Arab Emirates an advanced air defense system to protect the Gulf state from the threat of Iranian ballistic missiles.
During the war, the Emirates were targeted by Iranian ballistic missiles and drones, and infrastructure in the country was hit over the 40 days of the operation, particularly in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. According to sources familiar with the matter, Israel rushed to transfer a tracking system to the Emirates that can detect missiles from a distance of up to 20 kilometers (12 miles).
Earlier this week, the US news site Axios reported, citing US and Israeli sources, that Israel had sent the United Arab Emirates an Iron Dome air defense system, along with forces to operate it, at the start of the war with Iran.
According to Axios, this was the first time Israel had sent an Iron Dome battery outside the US and Israel where the system was used, a senior Israeli official said. The system intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles, a second Israeli official said.
According to the report, a source familiar with the details said several additional weapons systems had been deployed in Gulf states, along with "a not insignificant number of Israeli military personnel on the ground." Elbit Systems, Rafael, the Israeli Defense Ministry and the United Arab Emirates did not respond to requests for comment.
