Netanyahu made secret UAE trip during Iran war

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office has confirmed that he made an unannounced trip to the United Arab Emirates during the height of the US-Israeli war with Iran. “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,” the prime minister’s office wrote on X.

Covert operations and Israeli support

No official details were provided, but CBS reported the visit took place in late March — shortly before the Wall Street Journal revealed that the UAE had covertly carried out attacks on Iranian targets, including a refinery on Lavan Island struck in early April. In retaliation, Iran launched over 2,800 ballistic missile and drone attacks on the UAE, more than on any other country, including Israel. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirmed that Israel sent Iron Dome batteries and personnel to the UAE during the war, saying: “Israel just sent them Iron Dome batteries and personnel to help operate them.”

Abraham Accords in wartime

Huckabee praised the UAE as “the first Abraham Accord member,” adding that the military cooperation reflected “an extraordinary relationship between the UAE and Israel based on the Abraham Accords.” The accords, brokered during Trump’s first term, normalized ties between Israel and four Muslim-majority nations: Bahrain, Morocco, Sudan, and the UAE. A ceasefire between the US-Israel alliance and Iran took effect in April and was later indefinitely extended.