Huckabee Says Israel Sent Iron Dome Battery to UAE

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Tuesday, May 12, that Israel has sent an Iron Dome air defense battery and personnel to the United Arab Emirates, describing the move as support for the UAE’s defenses against Iranian attacks.

Huckabee made the comments at an event in Tel Aviv, linking the deployment to closer ties between Israel and the UAE since the 2020 Abraham Accords, which established diplomatic relations between the two countries.

A source briefed on the matter said Israel sent air defense systems to the UAE to help it defend against Iranian attacks during the war.

The source said Iran has targeted the UAE more than any other country since the start of the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran on February 28, and that Iran has continued to launch attacks during the current truce.

Abraham Accords cited as basis for security cooperation

Huckabee said the relationship between Israel and the UAE has deepened under the Abraham Accords, and he presented the transfer as a reflection of that cooperation.

The Iron Dome system is designed to intercept incoming rockets and other aerial threats, and the deployment would add to the UAE’s air defense posture as regional tensions remain elevated.

Emirati adviser points to regional alignment pressures

Anwar Gargash, a senior Emirati official and adviser to the UAE president, said on March 17 that Iranian attacks on Arab neighbors would strengthen relations between Israel and Arab states that have diplomatic ties with Israel.

Further details about the timing, scope, or duration of the deployment were not disclosed.

Officials are likely to face questions in coming days about whether additional defensive systems or personnel could be sent as the truce holds and regional security risks persist.