DUBAI,— Israel’s top spy traveled to the United Arab Emirates on two separate occasions during the war with Iran, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing Arab officials and a person with knowledge of the trips.

David Barnea, head of Mossad, made the visits in March and April, the report said. The trips pointed to closer ties between Abu Dhabi and Tel Aviv.

Separately, Israel’s KAN News reported Wednesday that Shin Bet chief David Zini also visited the UAE in recent weeks amid the ceasefire and continuing tensions with Iran.

KAN said the two countries coordinated on security issues during the war.

The WSJ report also said the UAE secretly carried out some recent strikes against Iranian assets, including an attack on Lavan Island’s refinery in early April.

Sources told the newspaper those strikes were a response to Iran targeting Emirati civilian and energy infrastructure.

Iran later sent another wave of drones and missiles against the UAE and Kuwait in response. At that time, no one officially confirmed who was behind the original attack.

KAN said Zini’s visit reflected growing security cooperation between the UAE and Israel.

Last month, Axios reported that Israel sent an Iron Dome air defense battery and military troops to the UAE early in the conflict with Iran. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirmed that during an interview at a Tel Aviv University conference on Thursday.

The Financial Times reported earlier this month that Israel also sent a version of its Iron Beam laser defense system to the UAE to boost protection against Iranian strikes.

The United States and Israel carried out joint airstrikes against Iran on Feb. 28, 2026.

Iran responded with thousands of missile and drone attacks on UAE and Gulf targets, including airports, seaports, hotels, residential areas, and oil facilities in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The attacks continued during the current ceasefire, officials said.

(With files from Agencies)

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