Israeli officials leak details of secret US-Israel-Arab military meeting, says report

Israeli officials have disclosed details of a clandestine meeting between military leaders from the United States, Israel, and several Arab nations, held in Germany to discuss the ongoing conflict with Iran, according to a report by Barak Ravid for Axios. The meeting, reportedly organized by US Central Command (CENTCOM) Admiral Brad Cooper, brought together the chiefs of staff from Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt.

This was the first such gathering since the US and Israel initiated military actions against Iran more than six months prior. While none of the regional countries publicly confirmed the meeting, CENTCOM acknowledged it, stating that the discussion focused on enhancing security cooperation in the Middle East. CENTCOM Commander Cooper reportedly assured the regional leaders that Washington would maintain its military presence in the area, despite Iranian attacks that have damaged or destroyed numerous US military installations across the region.

The US has also reportedly developed a strategy to increase ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial shipping route. Israeli officials informed Ravid that the country's Chief of Staff, General Eyal Zamir, briefed the participants on Israel's military actions in the region. This move also transferred Israel from the US European Command's area of responsibility to CENTCOM, enabling more direct cooperation with regional partners under US military command.

However, the move has been met with skepticism in Arab capitals, with some viewing Admiral Cooper as too aligned with Israel and too hawkish regarding Iran, potentially leading to strategically disastrous military decisions.