Israel conducts first joint naval maneuvers with Bahrain and the Emirates

Israeli Navy ships off the coast of the Hebrew state on August 10, 2021 (illustrative image).

AFP - MENAHEM KAHANA

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The United Arab Emirates and Bahrain are conducting their first joint naval maneuvers with Israel, a year after the normalization of relations between the two Gulf Arab countries with the Hebrew state, the US Navy said Thursday (November 11th).

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The maneuvers, which began Wednesday and will last five days, are taking place in the Red Sea, adjacent to the strategic Suez Canal and whose shores are shared in particular by Egypt, Saudi Arabia and warring Yemen. They aim to " 

 ," according to a statement from the US Navy.

" 

," said Vice Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Naval Forces Central Command (Navcent), quoted by the press release.

“

,” he added.

Iran as a common enemy

This is the first announced military collaboration between the Emirates and Bahrain on the one hand, and Israel on the other, since the establishment of diplomatic ties with the Jewish state in September 2020. Abu Dhabi and Manama had then become the first Arab Gulf capitals

without linking this act to the resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Morocco had followed suit, as had Sudan.

The Emirates, Bahrain and Israel have as a common concern Iran, accused of orchestrating attacks on ships in the Red Sea and in the Strait of Hormuz, which connects the Gulf to the Arabian Sea.

Iran is also accused of supporting the Houthi rebels in Yemen, which confront the Yemeni government supported by a military coalition led by Saudi Arabia and which includes the Emirates.

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