Israel Deploys Iron Dome to UAE vs Iranian Attacks

In the early days of the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, Israel deployed an Iron Dome air defense battery along with several dozen military personnel to the United Arab Emirates, marking the system's first overseas operational use to help counter Iranian missile and drone attacks on the Gulf nation.

The deployment came after Iranian forces launched an intense barrage against the UAE, targeting U.S. bases, military installations, and infrastructure. According to the UAE Ministry of Defense, Iran fired approximately 550 ballistic and cruise missiles along with more than 2,200 drones toward the country during the conflict. While most projectiles were intercepted by allied defenses, some strikes hit civilian and military sites, causing significant damage. The attacks disrupted vital energy facilities, leading the UAE to declare force majeure on oil contracts and deliveries just days into the war. Aluminum production, a key industry where the UAE ranks as the world's fifth-largest producer, also sustained unknown but potentially severe losses.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu authorized the move following a direct conversation with UAE President Mohammed bin...