David Barnea secretly visited the UAE twice during the Iran war to coordinate over the conflict, according to The Wall Street Journal [Getty]
The head of Israel’s Mossad spy agency, David Barnea, visited the United Arab Emirates at least twice during the war with Iran to coordinate over the conflict, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing Arab officials and a source familiar with the matter.
Barnea travelled secretly to the UAE on at least two separate occasions in March and April, the report said, highlighting a growing partnership between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.
Israel’s public broadcaster Kan separately reported on Wednesday that Shin Bet chief David Zini had also visited the UAE in recent weeks amid the ceasefire and continuing tensions with Iran.
According to Kan, the visit reflected deepening security ties between the two countries.
Israeli media had previously reported that the UAE and Israel had coordinated closely on military and political matters since the start of the war, although details of the cooperation were not initially disclosed.
Last month, Axios reported that Israel had sent an Iron Dome air defence battery along with military personnel to the UAE early in the conflict with Iran.
Israeli officials told Axios that the UAE sought support from allies in response to the scale of Iranian attacks, prompting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to order the deployment following a call with UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
A senior Israeli official quoted by Axios said it was the first time Israel had deployed the Iron Dome system to another country, and the first time it had been used outside Israel and the United States.
Despite the political sensitivity surrounding the presence of Israeli troops in a Gulf state, Emirati officials reportedly said the war with Iran had shifted public attitudes, with any country helping defend the UAE viewed positively.
Tariq Al Otaiba, a former UAE National Security Council official, said at the time that Israel was among the countries that had provided “real support” to the UAE, alongside the United States, through military aid, intelligence sharing and diplomatic backing.
The Wall Street Journal also reported earlier this week that the UAE had carried out previously undisclosed military operations against Iran at the start of last month. According to the paper, Emirati strikes targeted an oil refinery on Iran’s Lavan Island in early April.
