In the midst of a major military confrontation with Iran, an event occurred that forever changed the geopolitical landscape of the Middle East and demonstrated the true power of new alliances. Israel made a sensational decision to send an Iron Dome missile defense battery, along with career IDF officers and operators, to the United Arab Emirates.
According to Israeli journalist and political analyst Barak Ravid, this secret mission marked the first time in history that an Israeli system was deployed to defend a foreign state in a real war.
The decision to transfer technology and troops was made by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after urgent consultations with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed. The UAE faced an unprecedented threat, becoming the target of hundreds of ballistic missiles and thousands of attack drones launched from Iran. At this critical moment, Israeli assistance proved decisive. Israeli specialists, shoulder to shoulder with their Emirati counterparts, repelled the attacks, intercepting dozens of deadly projectiles aimed at residential areas and strategic sites.
Military and intelligence cooperation between Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi reached previously unattainable levels. The Israeli Air Force conducted preemptive operations, destroying missile launchers in southern Iran before they could be used to strike targets in the Persian Gulf. This act of Israeli support, while Israel itself was under attack, earned deep respect in the Arab world. Emirati officials emphasized that this gesture of goodwill and genuine defense will not be forgotten.