The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed that he made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates, where he met with the UAE president amidst the ongoing conflict with Iran.
According to a statement from Netanyahu’s office, the meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed led to a **”historic breakthrough” in bilateral relations** between Israel and the UAE.
Military Cooperation and Regional Tensions
On Tuesday, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee disclosed that Israeli Iron Dome air defense batteries had been deployed to the UAE during the conflict. During the conflict, Iran reportedly targeted several locations within the Emirates. Tehran has consistently voiced criticism of the UAE’s perceived strengthening ties with the US and Israel.
Emirati presidential adviser Anwar Gargash stated on Wednesday that the UAE remains dedicated to political solutions and diplomacy, while also asserting its nation’s right to self-defense. Reuters, citing an anonymous source, reported that the meeting between Netanyahu and the Emirati president occurred in Al-Ain, an oasis city close to the Omani border, and extended for several hours.
The **Iron Dome** is an advanced Israeli air defense system designed to intercept and neutralize various aerial threats, including missiles, rockets, and drones. Ambassador Huckabee attributed the Iron Dome deployment to an **”extraordinary relationship”** between the UAE and Israel, rooted in the Abraham Accords. These accords, established during President Trump’s first term, normalized relations between Israel and several Arab nations. The ongoing conflict involving Israel, the US, and Iran appears to have further solidified these relationships, including the development of military cooperation.
During the conflict, Iran launched a series of missiles and drones towards the UAE. On May 10, the UAE’s Ministry of Defense reported that its air defense systems had intercepted two drones launched from Iran. The ministry also stated that since the conflict began in late February, coinciding with actions by the US and Israel against Iran, the UAE had engaged a total of 551 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles, and 2,265 drones. The Wall Street Journal reported on Monday that the UAE had also conducted strikes on Iran, which have not been publicly acknowledged by the UAE. These reportedly included an attack on a refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in early April.
In his statement, Gargash affirmed that the UAE did not seek the conflict and had actively worked to prevent it, emphasizing that **”Arab-Iranian relations in the Gulf cannot be built on confrontations and conflicts.”**
Strait of Hormuz and Ceasefire Dynamics
A ceasefire between the US and Iran has been observed for approximately one month. Despite the ceasefire, Iran has reportedly continued to restrict passage through the Strait of Hormuz, a response to US-Israel actions, leading to an increase in global oil prices. Approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas typically transits this strait. The US, in turn, has been enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports, aiming to pressure Tehran into agreeing to its conditions.
On Sunday, Iran presented its demands for ending the conflict and reopening the Strait of Hormuz in a counter-offer submitted to the US. President Trump rejected this proposal, labeling it **”totally unacceptable”** and a **”piece of garbage,”** later stating that the ceasefire was “on massive life support.” Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf responded on X, asserting that Iran’s armed forces are **”ready to respond and to teach a lesson for any aggression.”**
#Netanyahu #UAE #IranConflict #Israel #MiddleEast #AbrahamAccords #IronDome #StraitOfHormuz #Diplomacy #RegionalSecurity
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