US Confirms Israel Supplied Iron Dome Systems to UAE During Iran War

May 12, 2026

US Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz confirmed on May 11, 2026 that Israel provided Iron Dome missile defense systems to the UAE during the recent Iran conflict, marking the first time the system has been deployed outside Israel and the US. Iran launched some 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,200 drones at the UAE during the war that began February 28, 2026. A ceasefire has been in place since April 8, 2026.

Iron Dome deployment confirmation

▪US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirmed on May 12, 2026 that Israel sent Iron Dome batteries and personnel to the United Arab Emirates.
▪Mike Waltz became the first government official to publicly verify that Iron Dome equipment was deployed and used in the United Arab Emirates during the recent fighting with Iran.
▪The Iron Dome deployment to the United Arab Emirates marked the first time the system has been sent to another country outside of Israel and the United States.
▪Mike Waltz made comments about the Iron Dome deployment at an Independence Day event hosted by the Israeli Mission to the UN in New York on May 11, 2026.
▪US Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz confirmed on May 11, 2026 that Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system was used to shoot down Iranian missiles targeting the United Arab Emirates.
▪Mike Huckabee made comments about the Iron Dome deployment at an event in Tel Aviv on May 12, 2026.

UAE-Israel military coordination

▪Israel and the United Arab Emirates have been in close military and political coordination since the war with Iran began on February 28, 2026.
▪The Israeli Air Force carried out strikes in southern Iran during the war to neutralize short-range missiles threatening Gulf states.
▪The Iron Dome system deployed to the United Arab Emirates intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles.
▪The United Arab Emirates carried out military strikes on Iran, making it the only other country to join the United States and Israel in their war against Iran.
▪Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the Iron Dome deployment following a call with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
▪Israel deployed an Iron Dome battery to the United Arab Emirates early in the war with Iran and sent several dozen troops to operate it.

Iranian missile attacks on UAE

▪The Iranian strikes on military and civilian targets in the United Arab Emirates prompted Abu Dhabi to seek assistance from allies.
▪Some Iranian projectiles fired at the United Arab Emirates struck military and civilian targets despite most being intercepted.
▪Iran launched sustained attacks on the United Arab Emirates during the war, firing some 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,200 drones.

Abraham Accords relationship

▪Mike Waltz stated that work on the Abraham Accords is ongoing and that Israel's ties with its neighbors are deepening.
▪The Abraham Accords deal between Israel and the United Arab Emirates was motivated in part by the shared threat of Iran.
▪Israel and the United Arab Emirates normalized relations with the 2020 Abraham Accords.

Ceasefire negotiations

▪A ceasefire between Iran and the United States has been in place since April 8, 2026.
▪Iran and the United States are holding mediated negotiations to end the war as of May 2026.