Italian newspaper Il Foglio reports that Saddam Haftar, deputy commander of forces in eastern Libya and son of Khalifa Haftar, held a secret meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during Netanyahu’s visit to the United Arab Emirates.
Israel, Libya and the UAE have not confirmed the encounter.
What Il Foglio says happened
Il Foglio says flight-tracking data showed the aircraft usually used by Saddam Haftar — an Airbus A319, registration P4-KH5I9 — landing at Al Bateen airport in Abu Dhabi at 12:40, about 20 minutes after Netanyahu arrived.
A Libyan source close to the Haftar family told the paper the meeting took place. Former Khalifa Haftar adviser Mohamed Buisier said Saddam met Netanyahu to seek political support for a Libyan presidential bid.
What has been officially confirmed
Netanyahu did visit Abu Dhabi and meet UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed. Israel and the UAE later confirmed that meeting and described talks on bilateral relations and regional issues.
Those official statements do not mention Saddam Haftar or any Libyan delegation.
Why the report matters
Saddam Haftar has previously been linked to discreet contacts with Israel, including a 2021 report that one of his aircraft landed at Ben Gurion Airport.
Il Foglio frames the alleged Abu Dhabi stop as part of a wider effort by Haftar to court Israel and the United States — including planned or sought meetings with U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance after earlier talks with Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
