Israeli Military Chief Meets Arab Counterparts in Secret German Summit

Israeli Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, held a secret meeting in Germany last week with military leaders from several Arab nations, under U.S. auspices, to discuss the war with Iran and ongoing Houthi escalation. The gathering, organized away from media attention, was facilitated by the commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper.

Participants included the chiefs of staff from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt, alongside Zamir and Cooper. This meeting marks the first of its kind since the conflict with Iran began over six months ago, offering a rare opportunity for military dialogue and coordination between Israel and Gulf states, including those without formal diplomatic ties with Israel.

During the summit, Admiral Cooper reassured his counterparts that Washington intends to maintain its forces in the Middle East despite repeated Iranian attacks on U.S. bases and outlined plans to enhance security in the Strait of Hormuz. General Zamir briefed the attendees on the Israeli military's activities across various fronts. A CENTCOM spokesperson confirmed the meeting aimed to explore "opportunities to deepen security cooperation in the Middle East."

Security cooperation between Israel and regional nations has reportedly intensified during the ongoing war, with Israel collaborating with the UAE and the U.S. on defensive and offensive operations. Israeli officials revealed that Israel deployed its Iron Dome missile defense system and troops to the UAE, providing real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support.

Amidst Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and their control of the Bab el-Mandeb strait, Israel is reportedly in discussions with Saudi Arabia, mediated by CENTCOM, to assist Riyadh's military operations against the Houthis. This potential support would mirror the assistance Israel has provided to Abu Dhabi.