Top military commanders from the United States (US), Israel and several Arab countries met in Germany last week to discuss the war with Iran and wider regional tensions, according to two Israeli officials who spoke to an international media outlet.
The private meeting was organised by US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Adm. Brad Cooper and was not publicly announced by the participating countries.
The meeting brought together military chiefs from Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt, along with Cooper.
It marked the first such gathering since the United States and Israel went to war with Iran more than six months ago. The meeting also gave Israeli and Arab Gulf military commanders whose countries do not have diplomatic relations with Israel an opportunity to discuss the conflict.
Cooper reassured the commanders that the US military would maintain its presence in the region despite Iranian attacks on US bases. He also briefed them on a US plan to expand ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli officials said that Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief of Staff Gen Eyal Zamir briefed the participants on Israeli military operations across several fronts.
CENTCOM confirmed the meeting, saying it “hosted senior military leaders from eight nations during a scheduled conference in Germany. The leaders discussed opportunities for enhancing security cooperation in the Middle East.”
Military cooperation between Israel and several Arab countries has increased since the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel, the UAE and Bahrain in September 2020.
Israel was later moved from the area of responsibility of the US European Command to CENTCOM, allowing it to cooperate militarily with Arab countries under the US regional command. The cooperation has focused in part on air and missile defence.
During the war, Israel has worked with the UAE and the US on defensive and offensive operations. Israel also deployed its Iron Dome missile defence system in the UAE along with personnel to operate it, while Israeli officials said that Israel provided the UAE with real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assistance.
Intelligence sharing between Israel and other Arab countries in the region has also increased during the war.
The meeting came as the Houthis stepped up attacks on Saudi Arabia, made advances on the ground and took effective control of the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea.
A source familiar with the matter said that Israel and Saudi Arabia, with assistance from CENTCOM, are discussing how Israel could support Saudi military operations against the Houthis and provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assistance similar to the support it has provided to the UAE.
