Saudi defence minister receives UAE vice president amid escalating Houthi threat

Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid ​bin Salman received United Arab Emirates (UAE) Vice ‌President and Deputy Prime Minister Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Tuesday, Saudi state media ​reported, as Saudi Arabia faces increasing pressure ​from the Houthis, who have ​fired salvos of missiles and drones at the kingdom. The UAE withdrew from Yemen earlier this ​year after Saudi Arabia accused it of backing ​a military operation by Yemeni separatists that it ‌said ⁠posed a national security threat to the kingdom. وزير الدفاع السعودي الأمير خالد بن سلمان يستقبل نائب الرئيس الإماراتي الشيخ منصور بن زايد الذي يجري زيارة للرياض pic.twitter.com/3HP32SM5cM — العربية عاجل (@AlArabiya_Brk) September 29, 2026 UAE state news agency WAM said Sheikh Mansour would travel to the ​kingdom in ​a "fraternal visit" ⁠upon the extended invitation, without providing further details. Saudi Arabia has ​been trying to rally international ​support ⁠to confront the Houthis, but it was not immediately clear if that request ⁠extended ​to the UAE. Netanyahu makes a secret visit to UAE On Monday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asked UAE President Mohamed bin Zayed during a secret meeting on Sunday to deny a report that he had warned Netanyahu of an imminent Hamas attack before October 7, 2023, Israeli newspaper Haaretz said on Monday, Anadolu Agency reported. Read: Netanyahu made a secret visit to UAE Netanyahu asked bin Zayed to deny reports about their phone conversation and details surrounding the events before October 7 that "could embarrass him," Haaretz said, citing unspecified sources. Netanyahu asked UAE leader to deny Haaretz Oct. 7 warning report in secret visit https://t.co/5n7BavDi6l — Haaretz.com (@haaretzcom) September 28, 2026 The Israeli premier also asked the Emirati president for what one source described as "moral support," the newspaper reported. Netanyahu held an hour-long meeting with bin Zayed, according to two people briefed on the trip. Israeli public broadcaster KAN reported that Netanyahu travelled on a private plane owned by an unnamed Israeli businessman and used by senior Israeli figures for international trips. It departed Ben Gurion Airport in the afternoon and landed in Abu Dhabi at 3:10 pm (1110GMT), the broadcaster said. It took off for Israel at 7:10 pm (1510GMT), four hours later, and landed shortly after 10pm (1900GMT). KAN said Netanyahu had also used the aircraft for a trip to Abu Dhabi during the war with Iran. The visit comes after Haaretz this month reported that bin Zayed had warned Netanyahu a week and a half before October 7, 2023, ​that Hamas was planning a major operation against Israel. Haaretz had reported that the warning was not passed to Israeli intelligence agencies or the military. Netanyahu, ​who denied the report and threatened legal action against the newspaper, is facing a tough reelection campaign. Opposition leaders have accused the prime minister of bearing responsibility for security failures that preceded Hamas' October 7 attack. Read: Netanyahu warned by UAE president before October 7 events, failed to brief security chiefs: Haaretz