Netanyahu made secret UAE visit during Iran war, Israel confirms
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited the United Arab Emirates during the Iran war, according to a statement released by his office on Wednesday. During Israel’s military campaign dubbed “Operation Roar of the Lion,” Netanyahu travelled in secret to the UAE, where he held a meeting with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The statement added that the visit marked a significant development in bilateral relations between the two countries. The disclosure came a day after United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee stated that Israel had deployed its Iron Dome air defence systems, along with operational personnel, to assist the UAE during the conflict. During the war, Iran launched a higher number of attacks on the UAE than on any other nation. Even after a ceasefire was implemented last month, Emirati authorities have continued to report sporadic missile and drone strikes attributed to Iran. The UAE remains a key strategic partner of the US in the region and is among the Arab states that normalised relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords signed during Donald Trump’s presidency in 2020.