Israel has deployed an Iron Dome missile defense battery and troops to the United Arab Emirates following the outbreak of war with Iran, according to reports citing Israeli and American officials. Axios reported on Sunday that this marks the first time Israel has sent the system outside its own territory or the United States. The deployment followed a conversation between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

During the U.S.-Israel war against Iran, the UAE’s defense ministry said Tehran launched repeated attacks on Emirati territory, firing about 550 ballistic and cruise missiles and more than 2,200 drones. Although most were intercepted, some struck military and civilian targets, prompting Abu Dhabi to request allied assistance. The Times of Israel reported that the Iron Dome system intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles.

Axios noted that allowing Israeli troops into the UAE was politically sensitive, but a senior Emirati official said the country would not forget Israel’s assistance during the conflict. Israel and the UAE normalized relations in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, partly driven by shared concerns over Iran.