Israel Expands Military and Cyber Ties With Arab Partners
Israel is strengthening intelligence, arms, and cybercrime cooperation with Middle Eastern nations to counter Iranian ballistic missile and drone threats.
The Cabinet of Israel is intensifying military and intelligence cooperation with Middle Eastern partners, specifically Abraham Accords signatories Morocco, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain. These strategic shifts follow a series of Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks that have pushed regional states closer to Israel and the United States.
Key security developments include the export of Israeli weaponry to Morocco and the UAE, and Morocco's planned participation in an International Stabilization Force to oversee a Gaza ceasefire. Intelligence efforts have also expanded, with reports of indirect contacts between Israeli and Syrian officials since December 2024 following the formation of a new Syrian government.
In the digital domain, Israel is scaling a cybercrime information-sharing platform with the UAE, expanding the network of participating countries from 13 to 33. While the Israel National Cyber Directorate and the IDF manage formal relations, the Mossad remains the lead agency for engagements with nations lacking diplomatic ties, such as Saudi Arabia.
