By Elham Asaad Buaras
London, (The Muslim News): Senior military commanders from the US, Israel and seven Arab states held private talks in Germany last week on the war with Iran and wider regional security, including officials from five Arab countries that have no diplomatic relations with Israel.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper organised the meeting, attended by military chiefs from Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt, according to two Israeli officials cited by Axios.
CENTCOM confirmed that senior military leaders from eight nations attended a scheduled conference in Germany.
“The leaders discussed opportunities for enhancing security cooperation in the Middle East,” CENTCOM said.
The meeting reportedly took place at a secluded ski resort and was not publicly announced by the participating governments.
Israeli officials told Axios it was the first such gathering of the military chiefs since the US and Israel began their military campaign against Iran in February.
Iran war
Cooper reportedly told the commanders that US forces would remain in the Middle East despite Iranian attacks on American bases.
He also briefed them on US plans to increase protected commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a major maritime route linking the Persian Gulf with the Gulf of Oman.
Israeli Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir reportedly briefed participants on Israeli military operations on several fronts.
Saudi Arabia and the Ansar Allah (Houthis)
The meeting came as Saudi Arabia faced increased tensions with Yemen’s Iran-aligned Ansar Allah movement.
Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman met Cooper in Jeddah on September 14 to discuss regional developments following an escalation involving the Ansar Allah, according to Saudi state media.
Reuters reported that Saudi Arabia had sought US military assistance against the Ansar Allah. Washington offered intelligence-sharing and targeting assistance but did not agree to conduct direct US strikes against the group.
Axios also reported that Israel, Saudi Arabia and CENTCOM had discussed possible Israeli intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support for Saudi Arabia against the Ansar Allah.
Regional military coordination
The meeting brought together Israeli and Arab military chiefs at a time of heightened tensions involving Iran, the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea.
Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt have no formal diplomatic relations with Israel, while the UAE and Bahrain established relations with Israel in 2020 under the Abraham Accords.
Israel was subsequently transferred into CENTCOM’s area of responsibility, facilitating military coordination between Israel, the US and regional partners.
CENTCOM described the Germany gathering as a scheduled conference focused on “enhancing security cooperation in the Middle East”. Neither CENTCOM nor the participating governments has released a detailed account of the discussions or announced a new military agreement arising from the meeting.
[An infographic titled ‘Saudi Arabia’s closure of the East–West Oil Pipeline could lead to a supply shortfall of millions of barrels in the market’ created in Ankara, Turkiye on September 14, 2026. Photographer: Murat Usubali/AA]
