The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement denying reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the UAE during Operation Roaring Lion.

The UAE statement claimed that “any claims regarding unannounced visits or undisclosed arrangements are entirely unfounded unless officially announced by the relevant authorities in the UAE,” while also urging media outlets not to spread “unverified information.”

There is just one major problem with that denial: this was not a media leak, rumor, or anonymous report.

The information was officially published by Netanyahu’s own office on the verified Prime Minister of Israel account, which explicitly stated:

“In the midst of Operation Roaring Lion, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu secretly visited the United Arab Emirates, where he met with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed. “This visit has led to a historic breakthrough in relations between Israel and the UAE.”

Why the UAE is now publicly denying a visit openly announced by Israel’s Prime Minister’s Office remains unclear.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)