TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Israel sent the Iron Dome air defense system, along with personnel to operate it, to the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This information was revealed by the U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, during a conference in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, May 12, 2026.
According to Al Jazeera, Huckabee praised the UAE as an example of the success of the relationship between Israel and the Gulf states after the signing of the Abraham Accords.
"They were the first Abraham Accord member," Huckabee said. "But look at the benefits that they have had as a result: Israel just sent them Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help operate them. How come? Because there’s an extraordinary relationship between the UAE and Israel," he stated.
As reported by NBC News, Huckabee's statement is the first official confirmation that Israel has deployed Iron Dome outside its territory.
First-time Use Outside Israel
The Iron Dome is a short-range missile defense system developed by Israel with billions of dollars in funding from the U.S. government. So far, the system has only been used within Israel.
Israel had previously rejected Ukraine's request to send the Iron Dome to counter Russian missile attacks. Therefore, its deployment in the UAE marks the first use of this technology abroad.
At the same forum, Huckabee called on Gulf states to determine their stance amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran.
"Israel is not your natural enemy. Israel is not out to destroy you. Israel is not trying to take over your land," Huckabee said. "It’s not sending missiles into your civilian territories. Who’s doing that? Iran is," he stated.
Response to Iranian Threats
According to Al Jazeera, the UAE and several Gulf countries have been targeted by Iranian missile and drone attacks since the United States and Israel launched an attack on Iran on February 28, 2026.
Iran stated that the attack targeted U.S. military assets in the Middle East. However, countries in the region have accused Tehran of also targeting civilian targets, including airports, hotels, and energy infrastructure. The UAE and Bahrain are two Gulf countries that have official diplomatic relations with Israel.
Read: How EU Countries Responded to Sanctions on Israeli Settlers
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