Al Jazeera reports: Because there’s an extraordinary relationship between the UAE and Israel.”Several media outlets had reported on the deployment of the Iron Drone in the UAE over the past weeks. Huckabee’s comment offers the first official confirmation of the move, which highlights the deepening relationship between Israel and Abu Dhabi amid the war with Iran.This is the first known instance of the advanced air defence technology – which has been funded by billions of dollars from the US government – being used outside Israel.Previously, Israel refused to transfer Iron Dome batteries to Ukraine to shoot down Russian missiles.The UAE and other Gulf countries have come under Iranian missile and drone strikes since the US and Israel started attacking Iran on February 28.
While Iran claims that it has been attacking US assets in the Middle East, regional countries have accused Tehran of targeting civilian sites, including airports, hotels and energy infrastructure. Advertisement UAE and Bahrain are the only two countries in the Gulf that have official ties with Israel as part of the so-called Abraham Accords.On Tuesday, Huckabee called on Gulf states to “pick a side” between Israel and Iran.“Israel is not your natural enemy. Israel is not out to destroy you.
Background
Israel is not trying to take over your land,” he said. “It’s not sending missiles into your civilian territories. Which side do you want to be on?” the US envoy said.
Key facts
- Because there’s an extraordinary relationship between the UAE and Israel.”Several media outlets had reported on the deployment of the Iron Drone in the UAE over the past weeks.
- Israel is not trying to take over your land,” he said.
- “It’s not sending missiles into your civilian territories.
What this means
Trump and his Emirati counterpart Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan held a phone call later on Tuesday.The two leaders “discussed strategic cooperation and ways to strengthen UAE–US relations in support of mutual interests”, the UAE’s official news agency, WAM, said.“They also exchanged views on the latest developments in the Middle East.”Despite coming under Iranian attacks, many Gulf states have not moved closer to Israel publicly. They also have not responded militarily to the Iranian strikes.Prince Turki al-Faisal, Saudi Arabia’s former ambassador to the United States, explained the rationale behind the kingdom’s restraint in a recent column for Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper.“Had the Israeli plan to ignite war between us and Iran succeeded, the region would have been plunged into ruin and destruction,” he wrote.“Thousands of our sons and daughters would have been lost in a battle in which we had no stake.
Israel would have succeeded in imposing its will on the region and remained the only actor in our surroundings.”The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Israel’s Government Press Office did not immediately respond to Al Jazeera’s request for comment.
Originally reported by Al Jazeera. This story has been edited and re-presented by BRIC Team.
