Satellite images taken over the United Arab Emirates show at least two Israeli Barak missile systems being used by the Persian Gulf country. (Via Tactical Report)
Damascus, November 1 (RHC)-- Newly-emerged satellite images show that Israeli-made Barak missile systems have been deployed in the United Arab Emirates, in a new sign of developing relations between Abu Dhabi and the regime in Tel Aviv two years after the two normalized their ties.
The images, released by Tactical Report, show that the missile batteries and an Elta EL/M-2084 radar have been stationed near al-Dhafra air base, south of the capital Abu Dhabi. Earlier this year, Israel agreed to sell its advanced missile system to the UAE, in the first such known deal between them since they normalized their ties.
Israel and the UAE have signed a raft of deals in various areas, including aviation, financial services and tourism, since they reached a controversial US-brokered normalization agreement in August 2020. Back in June 2021, Israeli foreign minister Yair Lapid inaugurated the Israeli embassy in Abu Dhabi and the Israeli consulate in Dubai during a two-day visit.
In January 2022, Israeli president Isaac Herzog arrived in the UAE in the first such visit. Also on January 18, Israel offered security and intelligence support to the UAE against retaliatory drone attacks from Yemen.
According to Reuters, the UAE has scrambled to bolster its air capabilities after a series of airstrikes and drone operations in January and February conducted by the Yemeni resistance armed forces over the UAE's role in the Saudi-led war on Yemen.
Earlier this month, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Israeli arms industry has disproportionately benefited from the warming of ties between Israel and some Arab countries, as deals worth more than $3 billion have been signed between the regime and the three countries that normalized their ties with it in 2020, including the UAE, Bahrain and Morocco.
In its report, published on October 9, the Journal cited former Israeli leaders and arms-industry officials as saying that the UAE bought a small Israeli surface-to-air missile system designed to bring down drones last year to allegedly protect its high-profile World Expo from Yemeni retaliatory attacks over Abu Dhabi’s involvement in the Saudi-led war on the impoverished country.
