IDF Chief of Staff Met Secretly With Gulf Military Leaders on Iran Threat

Israeli military chief of staff, Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi, held a secret meeting last week in Germany with military commanders from several Arab nations to discuss the threat posed by Iran and the escalating situation with the Houthis. The closed-door meeting, organized by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) head Admiral Brad Cooper, was not officially announced by any participating country. This gathering marked the first such meeting since the U.S. and Israel began their campaign against Iran over six months ago, providing a rare opportunity for military leaders from Israel and Arab states without diplomatic ties to exchange views on the ongoing conflict.

In parallel, the U.S. is preparing a significant arms deal with Israel, valued at $2.8 billion, for the sale of 2,000-pound bombs, according to a U.S. official cited by The Washington Post. This transaction is expected to be the largest of its kind in recent years. Meanwhile, the U.S. military confirmed it had placed advanced weapons in orbit for "space control," a move seen as a clear message to China and Russia, who have been accused of developing capabilities to harm satellites. The U.S. also acknowledged that the war with Iran has cost it over $33 billion, impacting its ammunition supply.

Regional tensions remain high, with reports of explosions near the Strait of Hormuz and an Iranian attempt to seize a U.S. naval drone in the same area, which was met with U.S. missile strikes. In Yemen, the Saudi-led coalition reported Houthi attacks on Saudi cities, resulting in civilian casualties. The UN Security Council is set to convene to discuss the Houthi takeover of the Bab al-Mandab strait. In Gaza, the IDF reported successful strikes against senior Hamas officials, including the commander of the Rafah brigade and the commander of Hamas's Jabalia battalion, amidst ongoing operations in Khan Younis.