Ukrainian military drone specialists are expected to travel to the Persian Gulf to help regional countries counter Iranian drone and missile attacks, according to a senior Ukrainian official. The move comes as Iran intensifies strikes on Israel and Gulf states following the launch of a military campaign by Israel and the United States.

At the same time, The Washington Post reported that Russia has been providing Iran with intelligence on the locations of American military assets in the Middle East, including warships and aircraft. Officials cited in the report described the effort as potentially comprehensive, though the accuracy of the information remains unclear. Satellite imagery has shown that several American radar and communications sites in the region were hit, including systems supporting a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense battery in Jordan and radar installations in the United Arab Emirates.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said the United States had asked Kyiv for assistance in countering Iranian drones, drawing on Ukraine’s experience defending against thousands of Iranian-designed drones used by Russia during its invasion. Ukraine has developed relatively low-cost interceptor drones and integrated air defense solutions that can target incoming aerial threats.

In exchange for assistance, Kyiv is seeking additional air defense missiles, funding for weapons production, and diplomatic support to end the war with Russia. Ukrainian defense officials said there is strong interest from both public and private sectors in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and the United States, viewing the cooperation as both a strategic opportunity and a source of geopolitical leverage.