The UAE secretly pushed for the sale of Israeli drones by Elbit Systems following an attack on Abu Dhabi by Yemen’s Houthis in 2022, according to leaked emails reported by Haaretz and Drop Site News.
Emails dating from 2021 through early 2023 reveal that Elbit Systems, Israel’s largest defence contractor, had already begun discussing the sale of Hermes 900 drones, SkyEye wide-area surveillance sensors, ground control equipment, training, and logistical support.
The sale was described as “urgent” after the Houthis in Yemen launched a missile and drone attack on Abu Dhabi on 17 January 2022.
The emails from Elbit Systems’ executives were obtained by Handala, an online hacking group, with supposed links to the Iranian government. They were verified by both Haaretz and Drop Site News.
The initial drone sale was valued at $154m, with additional upgrades bringing it up to $225m. The leaked correspondence didn’t reveal whether the drones were delivered.
