IDF chief Zamir is latest top Israeli official said to have visited UAE amid Iran war

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir was the latest senior Israeli official reported to have visited the United Arab Emirates during the war with Iran, according to Hebrew media on Friday.

The reports came after the UAE denied “any claims regarding unannounced visits” following disclosures that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the heads of the Mossad and Shin Bet had also visited the Gulf nation.

According to the Kan public broadcaster, Zamir came to the UAE with two other military officials and met with Emirati officials, including President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. The military has not commented on the report.

Earlier this week, senior US officials confirmed previous reports that Israel had also sent an Iron Dome battery to the UAE, along with soldiers to operate it.

Zamir was the latest senior Israeli official said to have visited the UAE during the war that began on February 28 and entered a truce on April 8. Earlier reports said David Barnea and David Zini, respectively the heads of the Mossad and Shin Bet security agencies, had also paid wartime visits to the UAE.

On Wednesday, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced the premier visited the UAE during the war.

The Emirati foreign ministry issued a swift denial, calling talk of covert wartime Israeli visits “entirely unfounded,” and insisting the countries’ relations are conducted transparently, in accordance with the 2020 Abraham Accords that formalized the bilateral ties.

UAE lobbied Gulf states to join Iran war, without success

Israel and the US launched a bombing campaign on Iran on February 28 in a bid to destabilize the regime and destroy its ballistic missile and nuclear programs.

Iran responded with missile and drone strikes across the region, with Israel and the UAE sustaining the heaviest blows.

Shortly after the US and Israel launched their campaign, the UAE tried unsuccessfully to coordinate with other Gulf nations for a joint response to Iranian attacks, Bloomberg reported Friday, citing two people with knowledge of the matter.

According to the news site, Zayed spoke over the phone with other leaders in the region, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, arguing for a collective campaign, but his counterparts refused.

This response may explain recent breaks between the UAE and fellow Gulf states, including the Emirates’ decision last month to leave the OPEC cartel.

Bloomberg also reported, citing people familiar with the matter, that Saudi Arabia struck Iran in March, but pivoted shortly thereafter to supporting Pakistani-led mediation efforts.

The UAE was reportedly upset it was not invited to play more of a role in that process.

According to the report, Qatar mulled retaliating after Iran hit its Ras Laffan liquefied natural gas plant — the largest in the world — but ultimately opted not to.

US President Donald Trump’s administration was aware of the UAE’s effort to set up a joint military response, and wanted Saudi Arabia and Qatar to join, the report said.

Times of Israel staff contributed to this report.