US, Israel, Arab Military Chiefs Hold Private Meeting on Iran War

Top military commanders from the United States, Israel, and seven Arab nations convened for a private meeting in Germany last week to discuss the ongoing war with Iran and regional security, according to a report citing two Israeli officials. The gathering, organized by U.S. Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper, was not publicly announced by any participating government. The meeting brought together senior military leaders from Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt. It marked the first such gathering since the U.S. and Israel launched large-scale attacks on Iran in February, prompting Iranian missile and drone strikes against Israeli and American bases across the region. During the discussions, Cooper reportedly assured participants that the U.S. military would not withdraw its forces from the Middle East despite ongoing Iranian attacks on American bases. He also briefed the group on U.S. plans to expand protected shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global oil transit chokepoint. Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff General Eyal Zamir provided an update on Israeli military operations across multiple fronts.