IDF Chief of Staff Holds Secret Talks in Germany with Arab Military Chiefs
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir held secret talks in Germany with Arab military chiefs, organized by CENTCOM, to discuss regional defense against Iran and the Houthi escalation.
IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir met last week in Germany with military commanders from several Arab nations to discuss the ongoing war with Iran and the escalation with the Houthis, according to two Israeli senior officials.
Secret Regional Summit in Germany
The closed-door meeting, organized by CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper, was not officially announced by any of the participating countries. Although similar meetings have taken place in the past, this was the first of its kind since the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran more than six months ago. It provided a rare opportunity for military commanders from Israel and Arab Gulf states that do not maintain diplomatic relations to meet and exchange views on the regional conflict.
"Last week, CENTCOM hosted senior military officials from eight countries as part of a planned conference in Germany. The commanders discussed opportunities to deepen regional security cooperation in the Middle East," said CENTCOM spokesperson Captain Tim Hawkins.
In addition to Admiral Cooper and IDF Chief of Staff Zamir, the meeting was attended by the chiefs of staff of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt. Cooper assured his regional counterparts that the US military has no intention of withdrawing forces from the Middle East despite Iranian attacks on American bases. He also briefed them on the US plan to expand vessel traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. An Israeli official stated that Lieutenant General Zamir briefed the participants on IDF operations across various fronts.
Broadening Security Cooperation
Cooperation between Israel and regional states has significantly tightened since the signing of the Abraham Accords between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain in September 2020. Shortly thereafter, Israel was transferred from the US European Command (EUCOM) area of responsibility to CENTCOM. During the conflict, Israel has cooperated with the UAE and the US in both defensive and offensive operations.
Israel deployed Iron Dome missile defense systems and troops to the UAE, and provided real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) support, according to senior Israeli officials. Intelligence-sharing between Israel and other Arab nations in the region has also expanded during the war.
Strategic Talks on Houthi Threats
The meeting took place as the Houthis escalated attacks against Saudi Arabia, made territorial gains in Yemen, and effectively seized control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea. A source familiar with the matter said Israel has discussed with Saudi Arabia, mediated by CENTCOM, ways it could assist Saudi military operations against the Houthis and provide similar ISR intelligence support to Riyadh.
