Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed Wednesday that he made a secret trip to the United Arab Emirates to sit down with that country’s leader amid the war against Iran, Anadolu reports.
“In the midst of Operation Roaring Lion, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates, where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed,” Netanyahu’s office wrote on US social media company X.
Additional details were not available officially, but the CBS American television network reported that the visit occurred in late March, during the height of the US-Israeli war against Iran. A ceasefire was brokered in April and subsequently indefinitely extended by US President Donald Trump.
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that the Emirates has covertly carried out attacks on Iran. One of the targets has been a refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island that was struck in early April.
The timing appears to line up with Netanyahu’s visit occurring shortly before the UAE launched the attack.
READ: Israel sent Iron Dome batteries, personnel to UAE during Iran war: US envoy
Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles and drones at the UAE and Kuwait. The Journal said Iran has targeted the UAE more than any other country, including Israel, carrying out more than 2,800 missile and drone attacks on the Gulf nation.
US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirmed Tuesday that Israel sent Iron Dome anti-missile batteries and personnel to the UAE during the war.
“I’d like to say a word of appreciation for the United Arab Emirates, the first Abraham Accord member,” said Huckabee. “Just look at the benefits. Israel just sent them Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help operate them.”
The Abraham Accords are normalization agreements signed between Israel and several Muslim-majority countries during US President Donald Trump’s first term. Four nations have joined the peace agreements — Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan and the UAE. The UAE was the first to sign the agreements.
Muckabee said the move reflected “an extraordinary relationship between the UAE and Israel based on the Abraham Accords.”
READ: US report says UAE secretly carrying out attacks on Iran
