Netanyahu holds rare call with UAE President after Iranian attacks
Updated
Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 5
Netanyahu holds rare call with UAE President after Iranian attacks
9 articles · Updated · The Wall Street Journal · May 5
The call came as the UAE said it was intercepting fresh Iranian strikes, after reporting on Monday it downed 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles and four drones.
Jordan's king and Iraqi Kurdistan's prime minister also called Mohamed bin Zayed, with leaders expressing solidarity and backing measures to protect the Gulf state's security and citizens.
Israel earlier sent an Iron Dome battery and troops to the UAE, while the Pentagon said Iran's latest military action had not yet amounted to a restart of war.
Is the Iran conflict forging a permanent new military alliance between Israel and the UAE?
Can the UAE's advanced defenses win an economic war against Iran's low-cost drone and missile swarms?
With a fragile ceasefire failing and the Strait of Hormuz closed, is a wider regional war now inevitable?
Israel Deploys Iron Dome in UAE Amid 2026 Iranian Missile Assault, Cementing Historic Security Alliance
Overview
In early 2026, a massive Iranian missile and drone attack on the UAE triggered a historic phone call between Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, leading to a rapid deployment of Israel's Iron Dome and advanced defense systems on Emirati soil. This marked the first operational use of Israeli missile defense outside Israel and the US during active combat, forging a new security alliance. The UAE expressed deep gratitude and publicly distanced itself from traditional Arab partners, especially Saudi Arabia, while Israel sought to project power to contain Iran. Regional reactions varied, with some Gulf states cautious and global powers calling for de-escalation, highlighting a shifting Middle Eastern security landscape.