CNN has reported that Israel established secret sites and military facilities in the United Arab Emirates and deployed special forces to Emirati cities during the US-Israeli war against Iran.
According to the report, Israel also deployed special operations personnel to Azerbaijan, the UAE, Iraq, and Somaliland throughout the conflict.
Israeli Operations Near the Iranian Border
CNN cited four sources familiar with the matter as saying that Mossad operatives and elite Israeli military units, including an airborne rescue unit from the Israeli Air Force, were deployed to southern Azerbaijan near the Iranian border, approximately 100 kilometres from the city of Tabriz at the closest point.
The personnel reportedly carried out drone operations and intelligence gathering missions from positions near the frontier.
One source quoted by CNN stated that an operation launched from Azerbaijani territory led to the assassination of Rahman Moghaddam, head of the Special Intelligence Operations Division of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, on 4 March.
The following day, drones struck Nakhchivan International Airport and a nearby village in Azerbaijan. Baku accused Iran of carrying out the attack, an allegation Tehran denied.
Network of Secret Facilities Across the Region
CNN reported that Israel maintains a network of secret sites and operational bases throughout the region, including locations in Iraq, the UAE, and Somaliland.
According to the report, some of these facilities were established with the knowledge of host authorities, while others may have been created without official acknowledgement.
The network also reportedly includes covert Israeli sites in Somaliland, the self declared republic in northern Somalia that lacks international recognition.
In December last year, Israel became the first United Nations member state to recognise Somaliland as an independent country. The UAE had previously been among the strongest supporters of Somaliland’s separation and independent status.
Reports of Israeli Facilities in Iraq
The allegations follow reports published last month by both the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times claiming that Israel established two secret facilities inside Iraq during the conflict.
Separate reports from Axios and the Financial Times also stated that Israel deployed military personnel, an Iron Dome battery, and additional air defence systems to the UAE during the war against Iran.
Intelligence Gathering and Surveillance Operations
According to the reports, Israeli special forces and stealth aircraft were later used to install intelligence collection equipment throughout the region.
The equipment was reportedly employed to monitor Iranian military movements and gather information on military installations.
Strategic Ties With Azerbaijan and the UAE
Israel maintains close strategic relationships with both Azerbaijan and the United Arab Emirates.
Its partnership with Azerbaijan extends across energy, defence, and cybersecurity sectors, while cooperation with Abu Dhabi includes economic, intelligence, and security partnerships.
