The Israeli government today declined Ukraine’s latest requests to transfer air-defense systems such as Iron Dome but said that it might help Kyiv build out an early-warning system to detect incoming Russian missile strikes and drone attacks.

While at times offering other forms of humanitarian and defensive support for Ukraine, Jerusalem has previously held off on arming the Ukrainian military. The decision to consider assisting with an early-warning system is new.

Speaking to a group of European ambassadors, Israeli defense minister Benny Gantz explained his country’s position, highlighting the forms of aid that his country does provide, while ruling out weapons assistance “due to a variety of operational considerations,” the Times of Israel first reported. Those operational considerations may refer to Israel’s coordination with ongoing operations to counter Iran in neighboring Syria, which Russia has permitted.

Gantz then revealed that Israel could move to help build up an early-warning system in Ukraine, saying that he has requested further information from Kyiv about the country’s air-defense needs: “Once we gain this information, we will be able to assist in the development of a life-saving civilian early-warning system.”

In a recent plea to the Israeli government, Axios reported exclusively today, Kviv had requested Iron Dome batteries, specifically citing the threat of new Iranian drones that Russia has started to use on the battlefield and the likelihood that Tehran would soon transfer ballistic missiles to Russian forces as well. “Such attacks have already led to numerous victims among the Ukrainian civilians, and also a significant destruction of civil infrastructure facilities,” Ukraine’s embassy in Israel wrote in a letter to the Israeli foreign ministry.

In recent weeks, Iran has transferred Shahed-136 “suicide drones” and Mohajer-6 drones to the Russian military, which has used them to devastating effect. The Wall Street Journal reported that since their introduction on the battlefield they have destroyed several Ukrainian artillery batteries and infantry vehicles, though Ukrainian forces have also shot many of them down. The Israeli military has said that it is closely watching how the Iranian drones being used in Ukraine could be weaponized against Israeli cities in the future.

The degree of Iranian assistance is expected to grow more intense, the Ukrainian government said.

“There is a high probability of prompt deliveries to the Russian Federation of Fateh-110 and Zolfaghar ballistic missiles from Iran,” the Ukrainian embassy’s letter continued.

In addition to Iron Dome, the letter states, Ukraine’s government is also requesting Iron Beam, Barak-8, David’s Sling, and the Arrow Interceptor — all of which are Israeli systems and critical parts of the country’s highly successful air-defense arsenal. Kyiv also requested U.S.-produced Patriot missile batteries.

Following Ukrainian advances over the past several weeks, and an explosion that targeted a bridge in Crimea, Russia unleashed a missile barrage this month targeting civilian centers and critical infrastructure in several of the country’s cities, killing at least 19 people.