UAE Security Officials Visited Israel During the Iran War, Report Says

Senior Emirati security officials visited Israel at the start of Operation "Rising Lion" in March and met with top Israeli defense officials, according to a report aired Tuesday on Kan News. It is the first known physical visit by Emirati senior officials to Israel during the war. The meetings focused on security coordination between the two countries.

The identities of the visiting Emiratis were not disclosed, but the aircraft that brought them was a VIP Boeing 737, a type used by very senior members of the Emirati royal family. The report said the visit took place while the fighting with Iran was underway.

Last month, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office announced that he had secretly visited the United Arab Emirates during the operation and met with President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. At the time, Netanyahu's office said the trip had brought about "a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates."

The UAE Foreign Ministry denied that account and also said it had not hosted an Israeli military delegation. On the same day, Kan News also reported that Shin Bet chief David Zini had made a first-of-its-kind visit to the UAE. Zini's trip took place against the backdrop of the ceasefire and rising tensions with Iran.