Netanyahu held secret UAE meeting with MBZ during Iran war

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed he made a secret visit to the United Arab Emirates during the height of the Iran war to meet UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, triggering fresh diplomatic tensions across the region.

In a statement issued on Wednesday night, Netanyahu’s office described the alleged visit as a major step forward in ties between Israel and the UAE. “This visit has led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the UAE,” the statement said.

According to Reuters, the two leaders reportedly met for several hours in Al Ain, a city near the Oman border, on March 26. However, the UAE’s foreign ministry swiftly denied the reports, calling the claims “baseless”.