"Israel is the appetizer, America has always been the entrée" — U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee on Iran's government.
Summary Paragraph
U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee has confirmed that Israel deployed Iron Dome anti-missile batteries and personnel to the United Arab Emirates to assist in defense during the Iran war. The announcement comes amid ongoing regional tensions involving Iran, Kuwait, and the Gulf states, and coincides with new allegations from Kuwait regarding an attempted infiltration by Iranian forces.
Key Developments
Israel-UAE Military Cooperation
- U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated on Tuesday that Israel sent Iron Dome anti-missile batteries and personnel to the United Arab Emirates to help defend the country during the Iran war.
- This is the first publicly acknowledged deployment of Israeli military assets to the UAE.
- Huckabee made the remarks at the Tel Aviv Conference, following similar comments by U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz at the Israeli UN mission the previous night.
- The UAE and Israel have not commented on the statements.
- Iran has not responded to Huckabee's remarks but has previously alleged that Israel maintains a military presence in the Emirates.
"The Gulf states now understood they will have to make a choice — is it more likely they will be attacked by Iran or Israel?" — Mike Huckabee
Abraham Accords and Regional Diplomacy
The UAE normalized relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords, which also included Bahrain. Huckabee expressed optimism that additional Gulf states would join the accords, stating: "The Gulf states now understood they will have to make a choice — is it more likely they will be attacked by Iran or Israel?"
He added: "Israel is the appetizer, America has always been the entrée" for Iran's government. This stark assessment underscores growing perceptions of a regional realignment.
Kuwait Accuses Iran of Infiltration Attempt
- Kuwait stated on Tuesday that a six-member armed team from Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard attempted to infiltrate Bubiyan Island on May 1.
- Kuwait reported that four individuals were detained, two escaped, and one Kuwaiti security official was injured.
- The detained individuals include two Guard naval captains, a Guard naval lieutenant, and a Guard army lieutenant.
- Bubiyan Island is the site of the Mubarak Al Kabeer Port, which is under construction as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
- Kuwait did not explain the delay in announcing the allegations.
Bahrain Sentencing
Bahraini prosecutors announced on Tuesday that at least two dozen people were sentenced on charges including espionage and conspiring with Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard. Three individuals received life sentences, and others received shorter sentences.
Regional Context
- A shaky ceasefire currently holds in the Iran war, but the Strait of Hormuz remains closed and under Iranian influence.
- U.S.-Iran negotiations are at a standstill, increasing the risk of renewed conflict.
- Since the conflict began, the UAE has closed Iranian government-linked sites in the country.
- On Thursday, Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi visited an air base in the UAE where Egyptian pilots and Rafael fighter jets were stationed, marking the first acknowledgment of an Egyptian military detachment in the UAE.