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As Defense Ties with Arab Countries Strengthen, Israel to Sell Drones and Anti-Drone Systems to Bahrain
(Wall Street Journal) Dion Nissenbaum - In Bahrain, an Israeli naval officer works with Bahraini and American officials trying to contain Iran's military ambitions. In Morocco, Israeli soldiers recently played a role in America's largest regular military exercise in Africa. Israeli sailors have trained with Arab counterparts in the Red Sea. Israeli and Arab military officials confer together at U.S. Central Command - the American military hub for the Middle East. Gen. (ret.) Joseph Votel, who served as head of CENTCOM, said, "Israel has the potential to raise the game of all the Arab Gulf partners by virtue of their seriousness, proficiency and innovativeness." In recent months, Bahrain has been working with Israel's Mossad and the Israel Security Agency to train its own intelligence officers. Israel has also agreed to provide Bahrain with both drones and antidrone systems. In 2021, 7% of Israel's military sales went to Abraham Accords countries.