The proposed assistance comes in the wake of a deadly attack on the United Arab Emirates by Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis.
By Erin Viner
“We stand ready to offer you security and intelligence support in order to help you protect your citizens from similar attacks,” Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett wrote in an official letter sent to Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, in which also he relayed Jerusalem’s deep condolences for the deadly terrorist strike on Monday.
“I have ordered the Israeli security establishment to provide their counterparts in the UAE with any assistance, should you be interested,” added Prime Minister Bennett.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog made a condolence call to the Crown Prince to condemn the attacks, during which he expressed full backing to the UAE and its right to act in self-defense.
3 people were killed and 6 wounded in the UAE capital of Abu Dhabi when 3 tanker trucks exploded. In a direct claim of responsibility, Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the Islamist group fired “a large number” of drones and 5 ballistic missiles in the attack.
The UAE and Bahrain, signed United States-brokered normalization agreements with Israel at the White House in 2020 as part of the Abraham Accords. The 2 Gulf nations share common concerns with Israel about Iran and its allied proxy forces in the region.
“Israel is committed to working closely with you in the ongoing battle against extremist forces in the region, and we will continue to partner with you to defeat our common enemies,” Bennett said in his message to Sheikh Mohammed.
Bennett and Sheikh Mohammed held talks in Abu Dhabi in December last year, the first ever public meeting between leaders of their nations.
The Islamist Houthis have frequently launched cross-border missile and drone attacks on Saudi Arabia – but have claimed few such attacks on the United Arab Emirates (UAE).