The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially confirmed that the leader conducted a clandestine visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the height of the recent military conflict with Iran.
The visit took place during “Operation Roaring Lion,” a large-scale military confrontation involving Israel, the United States, and Iran that gripped the region earlier this spring.
Key Details of the Secret Meeting
According to a statement released on the social platform X, Netanyahu met privately with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. While the Prime Minister’s office remained tight-lipped on the specifics, international reports have filled in the gaps:
- Timing: CBS News reports the meeting occurred in late March 2026, just weeks before the UAE launched its own offensive actions against Iranian targets.
- Military Coordination: The meeting coincided with a strategic shift. Shortly after, the UAE reportedly conducted a secret strike on a refinery on the Iranian Island of Lavan in early April.
- Iron Dome Deployment: U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, confirmed on Tuesday that Israel deployed Iron Dome missile defense systems and technical personnel to the UAE to help intercept the massive wave of Iranian retaliation.
The Scale of Iranian Retaliation
The conflict saw the UAE targeted more heavily than any other regional actor. According to the Wall Street Journal (WSJ):
- Iran launched over 2,800 missiles and drones at the UAE.
- Attacks also targeted Kuwait in response to the regional coordination with Israeli and U.S. forces.
The Abraham Accords: A Strategic Shield
Ambassador Huckabee praised the UAE as the “first member of the Abraham Accords,” noting that the current military cooperation is the ultimate validation of the normalization agreements signed during Donald Trump’s first term.
“Look at the benefits. Israel just sent Iron Dome systems and personnel to help operate them… this reflects an extraordinary relationship,” Huckabee stated.
Current Status: An Indefinite Truce
The regional war reached a turning point in April 2026 when a ceasefire was brokered. This truce was subsequently extended indefinitely by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has signaled a return to a “maximum pressure” policy on Iran while shielding Abraham Accords partners with Israeli technology.
The revelation of Netanyahu’s visit underscores how the Middle Eastern geopolitical map has been fundamentally redrawn, with former Arab adversaries now functioning as active military allies against Tehran.
