Amidst War, Israel Deploys Troops and Lethal Laser Weapons to UAE, Erecting a Defensive Shield Against Iran

New Delhi: As conflict flared in West Asia between Iran and the US-Israel axis, a significant—yet quietly executed—development has come to light. Israel has covertly deployed its most advanced laser weapon system, the ‘Iron Beam,’ to the UAE (United Arab Emirates).

Along with the hardware, Israeli troops were also dispatched. This entire operation was undertaken to safeguard the UAE against potential missile and drone attacks launched by Iran. This major revelation was reported by the Financial Times. Israel did not merely send the Iron Beam; it provided the UAE with a comprehensive package of assets. The first component was the Iron Beam laser system. The second was the Iron Dome—a system designed to intercept and shoot down missiles in mid-air—which remains Israel’s most renowned defensive weapon. The third asset was a surveillance device named ‘Spectro,’ capable of identifying Iranian drones from a distance of up to 20 kilometers. Furthermore, Israel shared intelligence with the UAE, including specific details regarding the timing of short-range missile launches originating from within Iran.

Perhaps the most astonishing aspect of this operation is that Israel did not simply supply weapons; it also deployed its own troops to operate them. The report indicates that dozens of Israeli soldiers were stationed in the UAE. One source remarked, “This was no small contingent of troops.” This marks the most significant step taken to date in the realm of defense cooperation between the two nations.

Another Key Detail:
Many of the weapons supplied to the UAE were not yet fully operational. Some were still in the prototype phase—undergoing testing—and had not yet been fully integrated into Israel’s own military radar networks. However, given the rapidly escalating pace of the conflict, Israel proceeded to transfer these systems to the UAE. In other words, the urgency of the situation was such that there was no time to wait for full operational readiness. Despite these limitations, the UAE successfully utilized these systems to thwart the majority of Iran’s attacks. Why did all of this become necessary?
On February 28, 2026, the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. In retaliation, Iran inflicted damage not only upon Israel and the U.S. but also upon the UAE. According to reports, Iran fired over 500 ballistic missiles and approximately 2,000 drones at the UAE. The UAE was targeted because it had signed a friendship agreement with Israel in 2020.