Israel secretly deployed Iron Dome to UAE amid Iran’s reprisal strikes: Report

A new report has revealed that Israel sent the United Arab Emirates (UAE) an Iron Dome air defense system with troops to operate it days after the US and Israel launched their war of aggression against Iran. 

The American publication Axios cited two Israeli officials as saying that the secret deployment came after Abu Dhabi sought urgent assistance from its allies following devastating missile and drone strikes launched by Iran in retaliation.

It said Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the regime’s military to send an Iron Dome batteries with interceptors and several dozen operators after a call with Emirati President Mohammed bin Zayed.

The deployment of the air defense system during the war—marking the first time such a system was stationed in and utilized by the UAE—had not been previously made public, according to the report.

The deployment came at the time when the regime was itself taking heavy fire, struggling to intercept advanced Iranian missiles targeting its own positions.

An earlier report by the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) said that Iran’s “sustained barrages” of missiles and drones pushed Israel’s anti-missile systems beyond their limits, allowing more missiles to slip through.

Facing a relentless and overwhelming Iranian retaliation that exhausted its defensive stockpiles, the Israeli regime began rationing its most advanced missile interceptors.

During 40 days of intense fighting, Iranian Armed Forces retaliated with over 100 waves of missile and drone strikes against the occupied territories and US bases in regional counties.

The US and Israel launched their war of aggression against Iran on February 28. The two enemies used the territories of the Persian Gulf states — Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan— for launching airstrikes against Iran.

In some cases, the Arab states of the Persian Gulf directly participated in unlawful attacks against Iran.

According to the WSJ report, the strain on interceptor supplies is not limited to Israel as Iran’s missile and drone attacks significantly stressed regional defense postures as well.

It said that Persian Gulf countries such as the UAE, Qatar and Bahrain were also seeking additional air defense support, while interceptor systems themselves are in short supply globally.

Iranian authorities have constantly maintained that any country facilitating aggression against the country will be held directly responsible.

Meanwhile, Tehran has demanded compensation from Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, and Jordan for committing internationally wrongful acts by allowing their territories to be used by the US and Israel for attacks against the country.

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk