Israel is identifying the first signs of a renewed thaw between the United Arab Emirates and Iran, including the return of Flydubai and Emirates flights through Iranian airspace for the first time in months and reported movement involving Emirati presidential aircraft.

Diplomatic officials familiar with the matter said the shift is being driven by the UAE’s economic and pragmatic interests and does not signal a move away from Israel. At the same time, security cooperation between Israel and Abu Dhabi has deepened significantly and reached an unprecedented level during the war.

As part of that cooperation, Israel transferred an Iron Dome system to the UAE and also sent Israeli soldiers to assist in operating it against the Iranian threat. The closer ties have continued despite ongoing friction with Tehran, after three vessels belonging to Abu Dhabi’s national oil company were attacked in the Strait of Hormuz in less than a week, with the UAE blaming Iran.

Abu Dhabi continues to view freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as a top strategic interest, while pursuing a dual-track policy: preserving its security partnership with Israel and the United States while simultaneously reducing friction and reopening channels with Tehran.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)