This is the first instance of the Iron Dome being used operationally outside the United States or Israel, though Singapore has reportedly previously purchased and received Iron Dome as well.
Israel sent an Iron Dome system and dozens of IDF troops to the United Arab Emirates during Operation Roaring Lion, its recent war with Iran, according to foreign sources.
Multiple Israeli officials have stated that the decision to send the Iron Dome battery and interceptors was made after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a phone call with UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed (MBZ).
Dozens of Iranian missiles fired towards the Gulf state were intercepted by the system, according to foreign sources.
This is the first instance of the Iron Dome being utilized operationally outside of the United States or Israel, though Singapore has previously reportedly purchased and received Iron Dome, and Romania is expected to do so as well.
Military, security, and intelligence cooperation between Israel and the UAE has been on the rise since the countries signed the Abraham Accords in September 2020, but reached new heights during the recent Iran war.
Iran fired around 560 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,250 drones at the UAE during the war.
Although the vast majority of missiles and drones were shot down, some penetrated the defense shield and struck a mix of military and civilian targets in the country.
Both the US and Israel, though mostly the US, conducted strikes against Iranian ballistic missile teams in southern Iran to also reduce the volume of missiles being fired at the UAE.
Iron Dome not provided to Saudi Arabia
In contrast, while Israel and Saudi Arabia both cooperated under a regional umbrella through the US as a conduit on regional air defense, there have been no reports of Israel providing such a system to Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia has expressed interest in normalization with Israel, but only if Jerusalem agrees to make significant concessions toward a two-state solution with the Palestinians.