Israeli Military Chief Meets Arab Counterparts in Secret US-Hosted Summit

Israeli Chief of Staff Aviv Kochavi reportedly participated in a secret meeting with military leaders from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Egypt, and Jordan. The summit, convened by U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) head Admiral Brad Cooper, took place in Germany. Cooper reportedly assured attendees that the U.S. would not withdraw its forces from the Middle East despite Iranian attacks on American bases in the region. Kochavi briefed the Arab military chiefs on the Israel Defense Forces' operations across various fronts.

According to Axios, which first reported the meeting, Israel and Saudi Arabia are also discussing intelligence and surveillance assistance from the U.S. regarding potential support for Riyadh in confronting the Houthis. This potential Israeli assistance would mirror intelligence support previously provided to the UAE. The meeting is considered unusual given that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait do not have diplomatic relations with Israel.

CENTCOM confirmed hosting a meeting of senior military officials from eight countries in Germany as part of a "planned conference." The discussions focused on "opportunities to expand security cooperation in the Middle East." However, CENTCOM did not disclose the specific countries involved or the details of the talks. This gathering is notable for its scale and composition, particularly since the start of Operation Iron Swords.

Separately, the U.S. House of Representatives voted for the third time to end the war in Iran, passing a war powers resolution that would limit President Donald Trump's ability to conduct military operations without congressional approval. The resolution passed 220-204, with some Republicans joining the Democrats in support. Representative Seth Moulton stated that Congress must ask tough questions, as mandated by the Constitution, rather than deferring to an administration advocating for war.