Israeli Military Chief Meets Arab Counterparts Secretly in Germany

Israeli military chief of staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, held a secret meeting in Germany last week with military leaders from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt. The gathering, organized by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) chief Admiral Brad Cooper, focused on discussions regarding Iran and developments related to the Houthi threat. This was the first such meeting since the U.S. and Israel began their campaign against Iran over six months ago, according to two Israeli officials cited by Axios and Israel's Channel 12.

The meeting included chiefs of staff from the participating Arab nations, including Gulf states without diplomatic ties with Israel, offering a rare opportunity for direct dialogue on regional security challenges. U.S. CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins confirmed the conference, stating that senior military officials from eight countries discussed deepening security cooperation in the Middle East. Admiral Cooper reportedly assured attendees that the U.S. military has no plans to withdraw from the region and briefed them on expanding maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Zamir reportedly presented an overview of the Israeli military's operations on various fronts, though specific details of his briefing and subsequent discussions were not disclosed. The meeting underscores the expanding military and security cooperation between Israel and several Arab nations, particularly since the 2020 Abraham Accords. Israel's transfer from U.S. European Command to CENTCOM jurisdiction has facilitated closer collaboration, especially in missile and drone defense.

This cooperation has intensified during the ongoing conflict, with Israel working with the UAE and the U.S. on both defensive and offensive operations. Israel has deployed its Iron Dome system and personnel to the UAE and provided intelligence support. The report also noted expanded intelligence sharing between Israel and other Arab nations concerning Iran.

In parallel, the situation in Yemen has escalated, with Houthi attacks against Saudi Arabia increasing and the group consolidating control over the Bab el-Mandeb strait. An informed source indicated that Israel is exploring, with Saudi Arabia and CENTCOM mediation, ways to support Saudi military operations against the Houthis, potentially including intelligence and surveillance assistance similar to that provided to the UAE.