India, April 27 -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is reported to have moved closer to Israel as Iranian missile threats loomed large, with Tel Aviv deploying its powerful Iron Dome interceptor system to the Gulf nation, marking the first time the defence shield has been sent abroad.

A report by US-based news outlet Axios has said that Israel sent "an Iron Dome air defence system with troops to operate it," citing two Israeli officials and one US official. The report added that the rare deployment took place early in the war.

According to the report, this was "the first time Israel had sent an Iron Dome battery to another country," adding that the UAE became "the first country outside of the US and Israel" where the system was used, a se...