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Dubai, United Arab Emirates – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has strongly denied allegations that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the country during the recent conflict with Iran. The denial, which comes in a statement issued by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, follows reports from several sources that Netanyahu’s visit occurred in a previously unknown capacity.
The reports, which surfaced on social media and were subsequently picked up by international news agencies, claimed that Netanyahu arrived in Abu Dhabi, the UAE capital, under a shroud of secrecy during a period of heightened tensions with Iran. The reports stated that the Israeli leader, who is widely known for his assertive foreign policy stance, had traveled to the UAE to discuss strategic security cooperation with Emirati officials.
However, the UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation released a statement categorically denying the reports, stating that no such visit took place. The statement, which was obtained by The War Reporter, emphasized that all foreign visits to the UAE are carefully coordinated with the UAE government and made public through official channels.
“The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation would like to confirm that no secret visit by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the UAE took place during the recent conflict with Iran,” the statement reads. “We take all allegations of this nature very seriously and would like to assure the public that all foreign visitors to the UAE undergo thorough vetting and coordination with our government.”
The statement also acknowledged reports of increased security cooperation between the UAE and Israel in recent years, citing joint efforts to combat the threat posed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). However, it did not provide any additional details on the nature of these efforts.
The war between Iran and Israel, which erupted on April 7 following a series of rocket attacks on Israeli cities, resulted in heavy losses on both sides. While the UAE has maintained a policy of neutrality in the conflict, it has been widely reported to have provided military support to Israel in the form of aerial refueling for Israeli fighter jets.
The denial by the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation has sparked intense speculation on social media, with many observers expressing skepticism about the government’s claim. While it remains unclear what prompted the initial reports of Netanyahu’s visit, the controversy has highlighted the complexities and sensitivities surrounding security cooperation between the UAE and Israel.