By Dwayne Ferreira.
Military chiefs from Israel, the US and seven Arab states reportedly met privately in Germany to discuss Iran and regional security threats.
Senior military commanders from Israel, the United States and seven Arab countries held a private meeting in Germany last week to discuss the conflict with Iran and broader regional security concerns, according to a report by Axios.
The gathering was organised by US Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper and reportedly included the military chiefs of Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt.
None of the participating governments had publicly announced the meeting beforehand.
CENTCOM Organised Germany Gathering
Axios reported that the meeting took place at a German ski resort and brought together commanders from countries with markedly different diplomatic relationships with Israel.
US Central Command confirmed that a conference involving regional military leaders had taken place, according to subsequent reporting.
The discussions reportedly focused heavily on Iran and the expanding regional conflict.
IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir was among those who attended.
Saudi and Qatari Participation Draws Attention
The presence of military chiefs from Saudi Arabia and Qatar is significant because neither country has formal diplomatic relations with Israel.
However, participation in the same US-led military forum does not itself amount to diplomatic recognition or establish a new alliance.
Several other participants — including the UAE and Bahrain — established formal relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords in 2020.
Egypt and Jordan have had peace agreements with Israel for decades.
The reported meeting therefore brought together countries whose public relationships with Israel vary considerably.
Iran and Houthis Reportedly Discussed
Regional security concerns have intensified amid confrontations involving Iran, Israel, the United States and Iran-aligned armed groups.
Axios reported that commanders discussed the Iran conflict and broader cooperation between US partner countries in the region.
The meeting also occurred as Houthi military activity in Yemen created renewed security concerns for Saudi Arabia and shipping around the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb.
US officials have increasingly focused on protecting major maritime routes during the escalation.
Quiet Military Cooperation Continues
Military and security contacts between Israel and some Arab states have expanded in recent years, particularly under the umbrella of US Central Command.
However, governments involved often avoid publicly describing the full extent of cooperation because of domestic political sensitivities and continuing disagreements over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
The Germany meeting provides another indication that military communication is continuing behind the scenes even where formal diplomatic relationships remain absent.
At the same time, the precise commitments — if any — made by individual governments during the meeting have not been publicly disclosed.
The gathering is therefore best understood as a reported regional security consultation rather than evidence that every participant has adopted a common policy towards Iran.
