JERUSALEM: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates during the recent conflict with Iran and met UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, according to an official Israeli statement released on Wednesday.
Netanyahu’s office stated that the meeting took place during Operation “Lion’s Roar” and described the visit as a “historic breakthrough” in relations between Israel and the UAE. However, officials did not disclose the exact timing or details of the discussions held between both leaders.
The announcement surfaced one day after US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee claimed Israel deployed Iron Dome air defence systems and personnel to the UAE during the war with Iran.
Israeli Statement Follows Iron Dome Claims
Although Netanyahu’s office stopped short of directly confirming Huckabee’s remarks, the statement highlighted growing strategic coordination between Israel and the UAE amid rising regional tensions.
Meanwhile, reports indicated that the UAE faced repeated missile and drone attacks from Iran during and after the conflict. Tehran allegedly targeted the Gulf state more frequently than other regional countries following the outbreak of hostilities sparked by US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.
Despite the ceasefire announced last month, tensions between Iran and regional US allies have continued to remain high.
Regional Tensions Continue After Ceasefire
The UAE remains one of Washington’s closest allies in the Middle East and maintains formal diplomatic relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords signed during US President Donald Trump’s first term in 2020.
Analysts believe the latest developments reflect deepening security cooperation between Israel and Gulf states amid ongoing instability in the region.
