Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates during the war with Iran and met with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Prime Minister’s Office said Wednesday.
The office said the visit led to “a historic breakthrough” in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates. No further details were immediately provided.
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UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu
(Photo: AP, Shalev Shalom)
Earlier Wednesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that Mossad chief David Barnea also visited the UAE during the war to help coordinate military operations. Two officials and another person familiar with the matter told the newspaper that Barnea visited the Emirates at least twice for war-related coordination.
The Journal described the visits as a sign of the tightening partnership between Jerusalem and Abu Dhabi. The sources said Barnea made secret visits to the Gulf state on at least two separate occasions, in March and April.
According to the report, the two countries maintained close security coordination throughout the war. U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee confirmed that Israel sent Iron Dome batteries and dozens of military personnel to the UAE to operate them and defend the country from Iranian attacks.
The UAE itself also struck targets in Iran during the war, according to reports, including a refinery.