Occupied Palestine (QNN)- US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said Gulf states now face what he called a strategic choice between Israel and Iran following the recent Israeli-US war on Iran that affected several Middle Eastern countries.
Speaking at an event in Tel Aviv on Tuesday, Huckabee said Israel had sent Iron Dome anti-missile batteries and military personnel to the United Arab Emirates during the war on Iran. According to CBS News, Huckabee praised Abu Dhabi for its ties with Israel under the "Abraham Accords" normalization deal.
“I’d like to say a word of appreciation for the United Arab Emirates, the first Abraham Accord member,” Huckabee said. “Just look at the benefits. Israel just sent them Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help operate them.”
The UAE had not issued any public response to Huckabee’s remarks.
The comments came months after the United States and Israel launched attacks against Iran on February 28, sparking a large-scale regional confrontation. Tehran responded with strikes on Israel and US allies in the Gulf region, while also shutting down the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route.
The war killed more than 3,300 people in Iran and displaced tens of thousands, according to reports. At least 13 US servicemen also died during the fighting, while dozens suffered injuries.
A ceasefire took effect on April 8 through Pakistani mediation. However, talks held later in Islamabad failed to secure a permanent agreement. US President Donald Trump later extended the truce without setting a deadline.
During his speech, Huckabee also said he expects more Middle Eastern countries to normalize relations with the occupation state of Israel under the Abraham Accords.
“I am very optimistic,” he said.
Several Arab governments, however, continue to criticize Israel over its genocide in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and Iran. Regional anger has grown as Israel’s wars expanded across multiple fronts over the past year and as the recent US war on Iran put Gulf countries in an unenviable position when they found themselves completely exposed to Iran's retaliation and Israel's false flag attacks aimed at dragging the region deeper into conflict.
Huckabee strongly defended Israel’s role during the Iran war and framed Tehran as the main threat facing Gulf countries.
“The Gulf states now understood they will have to make a choice — is it more likely they will be attacked by Iran or Israel?” Huckabee said. “They see that Israel helped us and Iran attacked us. Israel is not trying to take over your land and is not sending missiles to you.”
