UAE wanted to fly military UAVs over Gaza, 'Israel' denied bid: Report
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The United Arab Emirates wanted to fly reconnaissance drones over the Gaza Strip but the Israeli occupation denied their request.
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In this June 13, 2010, file photo a U.S. Predator unmanned drone armed with a missile stands on the tarmac of Kandahar military airport in Afghanistan (AP Photo/Massoud Hossaini, Pool, File)
The United Arab Emirates requested last week permission from the Israeli occupation to allow it to fly five surveillance UAVs over the Gaza Strip, but the Israeli occupation denied their bid, the Jerusalem Post reported.
UAE representatives told Israeli regime officials that they wanted to fly the drones over Gaza to monitor vehicles transporting equipment meant for a field hospital being propped up in Gaza.
According to the Israeli occupation, they denied the UAE permission because they were afraid the Palestinian Resistance would get its hands on the drones and use them itself.
The Israeli occupation denied the request and returned the drones to the UAE. "They made a request, and we politely declined," a security official said, according to the Jerusalem Post.
The Israeli occupation forces are gravely concerned that Hamas or other Resistance factions would be able to down the drones or acquire them somehow and then use them against the invading Israeli forces.
The UAE's request was met with staunch opposition from security officials due to the Resistance's usage of drones against the invading Israeli forces.
The al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas' military wing, have been flying drones in pairs all over the Gaza Strip; one for reconnaissance and information-gathering while the other is used for attacks, such as dropping explosions on Israeli infantry forces or advancing military vehicles.
Israelis are expecting drone usage to surge as the situation stabilizes in southern Gaza as the Resistance's operation rooms and production lines resume work in full throttle, and giving the Resistance the chance to garner more UAVs is terrifying for the Israeli occupation.
UAE-Israeli collaboration
This comes as it was revealed that an agreement had been signed to establish a land bridge between the port of Dubai and the occupied port of Haifa. The purpose of this agreement is to "bypass the threat from Yemen to close the sea lanes," as claimed.
This development indicates the occupation's need for support from its regional allies and the alignment of the United Arab Emirates with "Israel".
Earlier, Israeli media reported that the UAE is the most concerned country about Yemen's support for Palestine.
It is worth noting that Sanaa has supported the Palestinian Resistance against the aggression, repeatedly affirming its commitment to the safety of waterways and ship navigation. It emphasized that the military operations it conducts target only Israeli ships until "Israel" stops its war on the Gaza Strip.
Israeli media previously revealed that the occupation "officially" asked several countries, including Britain and Japan, to form an "international naval force" to "ensure freedom of navigation in the Bab el-Mandab Strait, according to their claims.
The request came after Yemeni forces targeted two Israeli ships in response to the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip.
Yemen unequivocally with Gaza
The spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, announced the execution of a naval operation targeting two Israeli ships in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. The targeted vessels were the "United Explorer" and the ship "Number Nine." This operation took place following the resumption of the occupation's aggression on the Gaza Strip last Friday.
Read more: US envoy to Yemen in Gulf to secure new safe passage for Israeli ships
This comes after Israeli media reported in November that there were concerns in the United Arab Emirates and Jordan due to Sanaa's involvement in the Gaza war through its launching of missiles toward "Israel" and threats against the Israeli occupation.
"Sanaa is currently focusing on firing at Israel, but many countries in the region fear being drawn into the conflict," Israeli Kan channel Arab Affairs expert Roi Kais said.
Kais identified the most concerned countries as the United Arab Emirates, noting that a member of the UAE parliament, who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed concerns that Israel's response to Sanaa's actions "could escalate the scale of the war."
