Report: IDF Chief Held Secret Meeting With Arab Military Leaders

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir met last week in Germany with the military chiefs of several Arab countries to discuss the war with Iran and the escalation involving the Houthis, according to a report aired this evening on Channel 12 News.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) organized the meeting, which was attended by the military chiefs of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt, as well as Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of U.S. Central Command.

According to the report, this was the first meeting of its kind since the United States and Israel launched the war against Iran more than six months ago. Cooper told his regional counterparts that the U.S. military does not intend to withdraw forces from the Middle East, despite Iranian attacks on American bases. He also briefed them on the American plan to expand maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins told Channel 12 News: "Last week, CENTCOM hosted senior military officials from eight countries as part of a planned conference in Germany. The commanders discussed opportunities to deepen security cooperation in the Middle East."

During the war with Iran, Israel worked alongside the United Arab Emirates and the United States in defensive and offensive operations. It was also reported that the IDF deployed the "Iron Dome" missile defense system in the United Arab Emirates, along with Israeli soldiers, and provided the UAE with assistance in intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance.