AiBotTEL AVIV, ISRAEL – The head of Israel’s spy agency, Mossad, David Barnea, reportedly traveled to the United Arab Emirates at least twice during the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza to coordinate efforts with Emirati officials to counter potential Iranian threats.
According to a report by Alsaa_plus EN, which cited anonymous sources close to the situation, the clandestine visits were aimed at bolstering regional security and cooperation in response to the escalating tensions and conflict in the Gaza Strip.
While officials on both sides of the conflict declined to confirm or deny the report, the alleged trips by Mr. Barnea underscore the intricate web of alliances and counter-intelligence efforts across the Middle East.
The Israeli government has traditionally sought to limit public disclosure on its clandestine operations, including those involving its intelligence agencies. However, if true, Mr. Barnea’s visits underscore the growing importance of cooperation between Israel and the UAE in countering shared threats, particularly from Iran.
The relationship between Israel and the UAE has evolved significantly since they normalized diplomatic relations in 2020. The two countries have since bolstered their cooperation in intelligence sharing, cyber operations, and security collaboration.
As part of this expanding partnership, Mr. Barnea’s visits to the UAE reportedly centered on coordinating efforts to detect and disrupt Iranian activities, including potential terrorist plots, smuggling operations, and other illicit activities in the region.
In recent years, the UAE has faced mounting concern over the presence of Iranian-backed militias in the region, including the Houthi rebels in Yemen and the Shia militia operating in Lebanon.
While diplomatic tensions with Iran remain a contentious issue between Israel and the UAE, a key objective of Mr. Barnea’s alleged visits was likely to coordinate regional efforts to mitigate threats from Iranian proxies and to strengthen their shared resolve against Tehran.
Israeli officials emphasized the importance of intelligence cooperation with regional partners to combat security threats and to strengthen regional stability. In response to growing regional concerns over the activities of Iranian-backed militias, Israel has maintained its stance of supporting and collaborating with its regional partners to maintain stability.
As for further developments, diplomatic sources have stated that Mr. Barnea’s visits to the UAE have helped to consolidate ties between the two nations by enhancing mutual understanding and security coordination on critical issues.