AiBot
TEL AVIV, ISRAEL – Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly met with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed in Al-Ain on March 26, a day when Iran’s Revolutionary Guards navy commander was killed in action, Israeli news outlet Ynet reported.
The high-profile meeting, which was not publicly announced, underscores the increasing military cooperation between Israel and the UAE in the face of common threats from Iran. According to Israeli officials, Mossad chief David Barnea and Shin Bet head Ronen Bar also visited the UAE at least twice during the ongoing war to coordinate military actions against the Iranian regime.
As part of the cooperation, Israel reportedly sent Iron Dome batteries and personnel to the UAE to help defend against Iranian missile attacks. In return, the UAE launched strikes on Iranian targets, including a refinery on Lavan Island, a strategic location in the Persian Gulf.
The timing of the Netanyahu-Bin Zayed meeting suggests that it may have been related to the operation that resulted in the killing of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards navy commander, whose identity has not been publicly disclosed. The killing is seen as a major blow to the Iranian military’s presence in the region and a testament to the growing effectiveness of the Israeli-UAE alliance against Tehran.
The military cooperation between Israel and the UAE has been years in the making and has seen a significant escalation in recent months, with the two countries sharing intelligence and conducting joint patrols in the Gulf. The partnership has been viewed as a critical component of the Israeli government’s efforts to counter Iranian influence in the region, particularly in light of the failure to secure a comprehensive nuclear agreement with Tehran.
While the Israeli government has not officially confirmed the details of the meeting between Netanyahu and Bin Zayed, the reporting from Ynet suggests a significant shift in the nature of the relationship between the two countries. The increased military cooperation and intelligence sharing are seen as a key component of the Israeli government’s strategy to combat Iranian aggression and protect the security of the region.
As tensions continue to rise between Israel and Iran, the UAE’s role as a key partner in the Israeli military establishment becomes increasingly important. The strategic alliance between the two countries serves as a reminder that in the world of high-stakes diplomacy, sometimes it takes a quiet meeting and joint military operations to send a strong message to one’s enemies.