Mossad director David Barnea secretly visited the United Arab Emirates at least twice during the war with Iran, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing Arab sources and a source who knows the details. The visits, which took place in March and April, were aimed at coordinating military moves during the conflict and underscore the deepening security partnership between Israel and the Gulf state.
According to the report, the covert coordination included Israel sending Iron Dome batteries and dozens of military personnel to operate them to the UAE to defend against Iranian attacks. Meanwhile, the UAE carried out strikes inside Iran, including hitting a refinery on Lavan Island.
The new details highlight the depth of ties developing between Israel and moderate Arab states, which share a common interest in containing Tehran’s aggression. The WSJ said it reached out to the UAE Foreign Ministry and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office for comment but did not receive an immediate response.