A senior American defence official has said aerial threats to Washington's allies in the Middle East are “very much of concern”.
Stanley Brown, principal deputy assistant secretary in the US Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, spoke to The National on the sidelines of the International Defence Exhibition in Abu Dhabi.
He highlighted Iran's move to supply drones for Russia's war effort in Ukraine and “attacks in the past” in the region.
Three people died and six were wounded in air strikes carried out by Yemen's Iran-backed Houthi rebels on an oil distribution plant in the Mussaffah area of Abu Dhabi in January last year.
Several further attempted rocket and drone strikes were intercepted.
America will have the backs of our friends in the region
Stanley Brown,
principal deputy assistant secretary for the US Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
A spate of missile and drone attacks have also been launched by the Houthis on Saudi Arabia in recent years.
In July, the UN said missiles used by the Houthis to attack Abu Dhabi and Saudi Arabia were of Iranian origin
“Threats to countries from the air in this region from different systems are very much of concern,” said Mr Brown.
“We have seen attacks in the past, and also Iran’s provision of drones to the fight in Ukraine.
“As this region continues to build relationships to provide arms, there will be more competition in this space.
“Russia will have supply chain issues, but retain an ability to furnish arms in some ways.”
Iran’s air force, made up mostly of pre-revolution aircraft from the 1970s, is to be beefed up by Su-35 Flanker Russian fighter jets as part of several arms deals.
Idex Day 2 — in pictures
White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said in December that a partnership between Iran and Russia to produce drones would be harmful not only to Ukraine but to Iran's neighbours and the wider international community.
Mr Kirby said that Iran had become “Russia's top military backer”, adding that the two nations were seeking to collaborate in weapons development and training.
In February, American defence officials sought to dispel any doubt that Iran was supplying drones for Russia’s war in Ukraine, releasing photos and analysis of unmanned aircraft being used in the conflict to demonstrate Tehran’s involvement.
The growing influence from Russia — and China — in the ever-shifting dynamics of Middle East diplomacy has made regional co-operation as important as ever, Mr Brown said.
“We will continue to work hard as we have the best capability, and our provision of arms is not just of a transactional nature, but to build the long-term partnerships that go with that,” he said.
“The US has been engaged in this region for a long time, as the President recently stated — America will have the backs of our friends in the region and we will continue to discuss a wide range of security issues with multiple partners.”
Dr Michael Knights, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said the US was playing a key role in assisting Gulf partners in bolstering their defences against air attacks.
“At this point, the Saudi Arabian air defences facing Yemen are some of the most experienced in the world, rivalled only by Ukraine and Israel. The US is already tightly involved in co-ordinating Gulf radars and missile defence and training and assisting Gulf air defence operators to intercept effectively.”
US boosts ties in the region
A clear sign of strengthening US relations in the region was Operation Juniper Oak in late January, the largest US-Israel partnered military exercise in history.
The live fire exercise in Israel and the Mediterranean included naval operations by the George H W Bush carrier strike group, integrated bomber fighter missions, combat search and rescue and close air support to demonstrate US capability to rapidly deploy heavy firepower to the region, if needed.
Discussions to build on plans for a Middle East Security Alliance to bring more military unity between a number of regional countries have long since faded after the Trump presidency.
While an "Arab Nato" may be no longer an option, greater collaboration for a regional air defence system was something that should be considered in the face of a rising aerial threat from Iran, said Mr Brown.
“We are seeing this region needing systems to protect and defend itself from the kind of attacks it has had [in the past],” he said.
“A lot of that rests on a universal requirement for air defence systems."
Regardless of the country concerned, the kind of protective capabilities that are needed are very much the same, Mr Brown said.
“A universal plan to help and assist in defence would be built on things that we already have here, that we know we can deliver.
“That is not only to protect the territory here in the Middle East, but also the tens of thousands of Americans living here.”
THE SPECS
Engine: AMG-enhanced 3.0L inline-6 turbo with EQ Boost and electric auxiliary compressor
Transmission: nine-speed automatic
Power: 429hp
Torque: 520Nm
Price: Dh360,200 (starting)
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Nag%20Ashwin%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarring%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EPrabhas%2C%20Saswata%20Chatterjee%2C%20Deepika%20Padukone%2C%20Amitabh%20Bachchan%2C%20Shobhana%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%E2%98%85%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Timeline
2012-2015
The company offers payments/bribes to win key contracts in the Middle East
May 2017
The UK SFO officially opens investigation into Petrofac’s use of agents, corruption, and potential bribery to secure contracts
September 2021
Petrofac pleads guilty to seven counts of failing to prevent bribery under the UK Bribery Act
October 2021
Court fines Petrofac £77 million for bribery. Former executive receives a two-year suspended sentence
December 2024
Petrofac enters into comprehensive restructuring to strengthen the financial position of the group
May 2025
The High Court of England and Wales approves the company’s restructuring plan
July 2025
The Court of Appeal issues a judgment challenging parts of the restructuring plan
August 2025
Petrofac issues a business update to execute the restructuring and confirms it will appeal the Court of Appeal decision
October 2025
Petrofac loses a major TenneT offshore wind contract worth €13 billion. Holding company files for administration in the UK. Petrofac delisted from the London Stock Exchange
November 2025
180 Petrofac employees laid off in the UAE
The biog
Hobby: Playing piano and drawing patterns
Best book: Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins
Food of choice: Sushi
Favourite colour: Orange
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
Wicked: For Good
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater
Rating: 4/5
RIVER%20SPIRIT
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAuthor%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ELeila%20Aboulela%C2%A0%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPublisher%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Saqi%20Books%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPages%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20320%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EAvailable%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Yemen's Bahais and the charges they often face
The Baha'i faith was made known in Yemen in the 19th century, first introduced by an Iranian man named Ali Muhammad Al Shirazi, considered the Herald of the Baha'i faith in 1844.
The Baha'i faith has had a growing number of followers in recent years despite persecution in Yemen and Iran.
Today, some 2,000 Baha'is reside in Yemen, according to Insaf.
"The 24 defendants represented by the House of Justice, which has intelligence outfits from the uS and the UK working to carry out an espionage scheme in Yemen under the guise of religion.. aimed to impant and found the Bahai sect on Yemeni soil by bringing foreign Bahais from abroad and homing them in Yemen," the charge sheet said.
Baha'Ullah, the founder of the Bahai faith, was exiled by the Ottoman Empire in 1868 from Iran to what is now Israel. Now, the Bahai faith's highest governing body, known as the Universal House of Justice, is based in the Israeli city of Haifa, which the Bahais turn towards during prayer.
The Houthis cite this as collective "evidence" of Bahai "links" to Israel - which the Houthis consider their enemy.
Company Profile
Name: Thndr
Started: 2019
Co-founders: Ahmad Hammouda and Seif Amr
Sector: FinTech
Headquarters: Egypt
UAE base: Hub71, Abu Dhabi
Current number of staff: More than 150
Funds raised: $22 million
THE BIO
Ambition: To create awareness among young about people with disabilities and make the world a more inclusive place
Job Title: Human resources administrator, Expo 2020 Dubai
First jobs: Co-ordinator with Magrudy Enterprises; HR coordinator at Jumeirah Group
Entrepreneur: Started his own graphic design business
Favourite singer: Avril Lavigne
Favourite travel destination: Germany and Saudi Arabia
Family: Six sisters
Have you been targeted?
Tuan Phan of SimplyFI.org lists five signs you have been mis-sold to:
1. Your pension fund has been placed inside an offshore insurance wrapper with a hefty upfront commission.
2. The money has been transferred into a structured note. These products have high upfront, recurring commission and should never be in a pension account.
3. You have also been sold investment funds with an upfront initial charge of around 5 per cent. ETFs, for example, have no upfront charges.
4. The adviser charges a 1 per cent charge for managing your assets. They are being paid for doing nothing. They have already claimed massive amounts in hidden upfront commission.
5. Total annual management cost for your pension account is 2 per cent or more, including platform, underlying fund and advice charges.
The bio:
Favourite film:
Declan: It was The Commitments but now it’s Bohemian Rhapsody.
Heidi: The Long Kiss Goodnight.
Favourite holiday destination:
Declan: Las Vegas but I also love getting home to Ireland and seeing everyone back home.
Heidi: Australia but my dream destination would be to go to Cuba.
Favourite pastime:
Declan: I love brunching and socializing. Just basically having the craic.
Heidi: Paddleboarding and swimming.
Personal motto:
Declan: Take chances.
Heidi: Live, love, laugh and have no regrets.
