Egypt has taken a major strategic step by openly siding with the Gulf bloc against Iran, deploying fighter jets and military personnel to the UAE as regional tensions continue to escalate.
According to reports, the Egyptian Air Force has deployed advanced French-made Rafale fighter jets to bases in the United Arab Emirates. The immediate mission is to help defend the UAE against Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting strategic and civilian infrastructure.
The move comes after months of unprecedented Iranian escalation. Since February 2026, Iran and its proxies are reported to have launched hundreds of ballistic missiles and nearly 1,600 drones toward targets connected to the Gulf states. Egypt has now shifted from political support to active military involvement.
President el-Sisi made Cairo’s position clear, declaring that “what harms the UAE harms Egypt.” During an official visit to the UAE on May 7, el-Sisi and UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed reportedly reviewed the operational readiness of Egyptian forces stationed there.
