Mike Huckabee Says Israel Sent Iron Dome Batteries And Personnel To United Arab Emirates

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Tuesday that Israel sent Iron Dome air-defense batteries and personnel to operate them in the United Arab Emirates during the war with Iran.

“US diplomat Mike Huckabee has revealed that Israel deployed Iron Dome batteries and “personnel to help operate them” to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to help fend off Iranian attacks”

Al Jazeera

Speaking at an event in Tel Aviv, Huckabee said, "Israel just sent them - [the UAE] - Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help them operate them."

Al Jazeera

Huckabee linked the move to the Abraham Accords, saying, "Because there’s an extraordinary relationship between the UAE and Israel based on the Abraham Accords," and he referred to the 2020 agreement under which the UAE established diplomatic relations with Israel.

The remarks came after U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz was quoted making similar comments during an event at the Israeli mission in New York, and the Times of Israel said Waltz’s remarks were confirmed by a source present at the event.

The Times of Israel also said Waltz confirmed Monday that Israel’s Iron Dome missile defense system was used to shoot down Iranian missiles targeting the United Arab Emirates.

The U.S. confirmations landed as the UAE reported continued Iranian missile and drone attacks even after a ceasefire came into effect last month, with The Times of Israel describing a shaky ceasefire in place since April 8.

The Times of Israel said Tehran launched sustained attacks on the UAE, firing some 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,200 drones, and it said most projectiles were intercepted while some struck military and civilian targets.

Anadolu Ajansi

In parallel, Middle East Eye reported that Iran launched around 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,200 drones at the UAE, and it said the attacks have dented the Gulf states' status as a luxury tourism and financial haven.

Middle East Eye added that the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company said the UAE’s main natural gas plant would only return to full capacity next year after being targeted twice by Iran, with the Habshan processing facility operating at about 60 percent capacity and plans to return to full capacity in 2027.

The same Middle East Eye report said Iran described a UAE strike on Lavan Island as an “enemy attack” and responded with a barrage of missile and drone strikes against the UAE and Kuwait.

Beyond the Iron Dome disclosure, the reporting tied the episode to broader U.S. posture in the region, with Middle East Eye saying the Gulf states opposed the US war on Iran but generally stood by the US when fighting started.

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Haaretz

Middle East Eye said the UAE staked out a more hawkish position, including lobbying publicly and privately for the US to continue attacking Iran and trying to prevent Pakistan from bringing the US and Iran together for talks.

In the same context, TRT World said the deployment marked the first official acknowledgement of the system’s use in the Gulf state, and it said Huckabee confirmed the deployment during an event in Tel Aviv on Tuesday.

NPR framed the moment alongside Kuwait’s accusation that Iran launched a failed attack on Bubiyan Island, where China is helping build a port, and it said Kuwait accused a Revolutionary Guard team of trying to infiltrate the island on May 1.

NPR also quoted Huckabee urging other Gulf states to recognize Israel, including his line that "Israel is the appetizer, America has always been the entrée" for Iran's theocracy, and it said he asked, "is it more likely they will be attacked by Iran or Israel?"