Sunni States Form New Middle East Alliance but Avoid Israel Despite Its Iran Capabilities

Several Sunni-majority countries, including Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Pakistan, are establishing a new Arab security alliance in the Middle East to counter the Iranian threat. Despite Israel’s proven operational success against Iran, these states have chosen to exclude Israel from this emerging coalition, opting instead for a regional Islamic alternative. This strategic choice reflects deep historical and ideological complexities rather than a simple military calculus.

Israel took unilateral military action against Iran well before the United States under Trump joined the effort. Israeli strikes targeted key Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, killing senior commanders such as IRGC Chief Mohammad Bagheri and Quds Force leader Hossein Salami, as well as nuclear scientists. This demonstrated Israel’s unique capability to strike deep within Iran’s core, breaking a longstanding taboo and shifting the regional strategic balance.

Sunni states have long feared Iran’s regional power, built through missile forces, drones, and proxy militias across Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. While these countries have sought American support and deterrence, none dared to confront Iran as directly as Israel has. Yet, despite Israel’s clear military advantage, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Pakistan, and potentially Egypt prefer to develop an independent security framework that does not rely on Israel.

The reluctance to include Israel stems from historical animosities dating back to the 1948 Arab-Israeli War and subsequent conflicts, where Arab states repeatedly failed to defeat Israel, which instead grew stronger militarily and technologically. Recognizing Israel as a strategic partner would mean acknowledging its dominant regional role, a difficult concession for these countries given their political, ideological, and identity considerations.

Thus, the paradox is that Israel’s strength and demonstrated capability to counter Iran make it a natural security ally, yet its very power complicates its acceptance by Sunni states seeking autonomy and leadership in the region. The new Sunni alliance aims to secure itself against Iran without depending on Israel, highlighting the enduring tension between pragmatic security needs and historical-political realities in the Middle East.