Eight Nations Hold Secret US-Backed Military Talks on Iran War

Senior military officials from the United States, Israel and seven Arab countries held a closed-door meeting in Germany last week to discuss the ongoing war with Iran, regional security and possible military cooperation, according to reports.

The meeting was organised by US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Admiral Brad Cooper. The participating countries were the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt.

None of the participating governments publicly announced the meeting. However, a CENTCOM spokesperson later confirmed that senior military officials from eight countries had attended a scheduled conference in Germany to discuss ways to strengthen security cooperation in the Middle East.

The meeting reportedly focused on Iran’s attacks, maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, the escalating Houthi threat and broader regional security coordination.

According to sources cited in the reports, Cooper assured the participants that the United States had no plans to withdraw its forces from the Middle East despite Iranian attacks on American military bases.

He also briefed the officials on a US plan to increase commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy and trade route that has faced severe disruption amid the conflict.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir reportedly briefed the participants on Israel’s ongoing military operations across multiple fronts.

The meeting was considered significant because several of the Arab countries involved do not maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel. It was reportedly the first gathering of its kind since the United States and Israel became directly involved in the war with Iran more than six months ago.

Military and security cooperation between Israel and some Arab states has expanded since the signing of the Abraham Accords by Israel, the UAE and Bahrain in 2020. Cooperation has particularly grown in areas such as air defence, missile defence, intelligence sharing and surveillance.

Israeli officials have claimed that Israel has cooperated closely with the UAE during the war, including through air-defence deployments and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assistance. These claims have not been independently detailed by all parties.

The meeting also took place amid increased Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia and growing concerns over the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, another strategically important maritime passage linking the Red Sea with the Gulf of Aden.

According to a source familiar with the discussions, Israel and Saudi Arabia, with CENTCOM’s involvement, have been considering possible Israeli assistance for Saudi military operations against the Houthis.

The possible assistance could include intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance support. The discussions come as the Houthis have intensified attacks on Saudi targets and expanded their presence near strategic areas along Yemen’s Red Sea coast.

The developments have raised concerns over the security of both the Strait of Hormuz and Bab al-Mandeb, two key routes for global oil shipments and commercial navigation.