Israel, Arab Military Chiefs Meet Secretly for Talks on Iran, Houthis

CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper organized the gathering, which was not publicly announced by the participating countries.

By Shula Rosen

Israel and Saudi Arabia are discussing possible Israeli military and intelligence assistance against the Houthis through US Central Command, as regional security cooperation expands amid fighting with Iran and escalating Houthi attacks.

The discussions could include Israeli intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support for Saudi Arabia similar to assistance provided to the United Arab Emirates, a source familiar with the matter said. Israel could also assist Saudi military operations against the Houthis.

The talks were reported as IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir met secretly in Germany last week with military chiefs from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt.

CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper organized the gathering, which was not publicly announced by the participating countries.

“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,” CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins told Channel 12 News.

Cooper told the commanders that US forces would remain in the Middle East despite Iranian attacks on American bases and outlined Washington’s plans to increase vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Zamir briefed participants on IDF operations across multiple fronts, an Israeli official said.

While similar meetings have occurred previously, the Germany gathering was the first since the United States and Israel began the war against Iran more than six months ago.

Regional military cooperation has grown since Israel signed the Abraham Accords with the UAE and Bahrain in September 2020 and was later transferred from the US military’s European Command area of responsibility to CENTCOM.

During the war, Israel worked with the UAE and United States on defensive and offensive operations.

Israeli officials said Israel deployed Iron Dome and Israeli troops to the UAE and supplied real-time intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assistance.

The discussions with Saudi Arabia come as the Houthis have intensified attacks on the kingdom, gained territory in Yemen and effectively taken control of the Bab el-Mandeb Strait in the Red Sea.