Illustrative image. (Israeli Defense Forces)
Israel’s Iron Dome missile system shot down one of the Iranian missiles fired at the United Arab Emirates on May 4, according to CNN.
Iran fired 12 ballistic missiles, three cruise missiles, and four drones at the UAE during the day, according to the Emirate defense ministry. The Fujairah Oil Industries Zone was hit. Three Indian nationals were wounded there. Three vessels, including a tanker owned by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company were also targeted close to the Gulf nation.
The strikes were apparently carried out in response to “Project Freedom,” an operation launched by the United States military to guide stranded ships out of the Strait of Hormuz. In the first hours of the operation, American strikes hit at least seven Iranian small boats.
This was the most serious escalation since a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran came into effect close to a month earlier.
Axios first revealed the deployment of an Iron Dome missile system in the UAE last month. The American news website said that Israel sent the system, along with dozens of troops to operate it, early in the war with Iran.
The Iron Dome was developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems and Israel Aerospace Industries mainly to intercept and destroy short-range rockets and shells. However, the system can also engage more traditional aerial targets, like fighter jets, helicopters, drones and cruise missiles.
The system has a maximum range of 70 kilometers. The system has been in service with the Israeli military since 2011. Since then, its effectiveness has been questioned on more than one occasion.
A later report by the Financial Times revealed that Israel also sent a version of the Iron Beam laser-based air defense system and a surveillance system known as Spectro to the UAE amid the war.
The Iron Beam was developed by Rafael Advanced Defense Systems to destroy short-range rockets, artillery, and mortar bombs. In addition, the system could also intercept drones. The base version of the system is reported to have a range up to ten kilometers.
Meanwhile, Spectro likely refers to a series of electro-optical systems used for both surveillance and targeting developed by Elbit Systems.
The UAE condemned Iran’s renewed strikes and said that it will reserve the legal right to respond. However, President Donald Trump played down what happened when asked by ABC News whether he’d brand the strikes a violation of the ceasefire.
“[It was] not heavy firing,” Trump said. “They were shot down for the most part.”
Pressed again, Trump responded, “We’ll let you know… I’m looking into it.” He added that “Iran “better hope [the ceasefire] remains in effect. The best thing that can happen to them is that we keep it in effect.”
Project Freedom was likely launched to test the reaction of Iran, and the strikes on the UAE proved that the Islamic Republic will not tolerate any military action by the U.S.
Navigation through the Strait of Hormuz — a choke point for around 20 percent of global oil and liquefied natural gas — will likely remain restricted until a full on agreement is reached.
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