Top military commanders from the United States, Israel, and seven Arab nations held a secret meeting in Germany last week to discuss the ongoing war with Iran and broader regional security cooperation, according to a report published Tuesday, September 15, by Axios, citing two Israeli officials.

Who Organized It and Who Attended

The private gathering was organized by Adm. Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), and brought together the military chiefs of staff of Israel, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan, and Egypt — nine countries in total, including the US and Israel. None of the participating countries officially disclosed the meeting, though CENTCOM spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins confirmed the talks took place, describing them in a statement as a "scheduled conference" during which leaders "discussed opportunities for enhancing security cooperation in the Middle East."

Why This Meeting Was Notable

While similar regional gatherings have taken place before, Israeli officials said this was the first meeting of its kind since the US and Israel began their war against Iran more than six months ago. It was also notable for bringing Israeli commanders together with military leaders from Gulf countries that don't maintain formal diplomatic relations with Israel — a rare opportunity for direct exchange between officials whose governments otherwise have no official channels of communication.

What Was Discussed

According to Axios, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir briefed the other participants on Israeli military operations across various fronts. Separately, Cooper reportedly told the assembled commanders that the US military has no plans to withdraw forces from the Middle East despite Iranian attacks on American bases, and outlined a US plan to increase vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting also touched directly on the escalating threat from Iran-backed Houthi forces, which have stepped up attacks on Saudi cities and energy infrastructure and advanced along Yemen's Red Sea coast toward the Bab al-Mandab Strait — developments raising fresh concerns about Saudi oil exports and global shipping.

Israel-Saudi Cooperation Specifically Discussed

A source familiar with the matter told The Media Line that Israel and Saudi Arabia discussed the possibility of Israeli intelligence support against the Houthis — a detail that, if accurate, would mark a notable expansion of security cooperation between the two countries, which do not maintain formal diplomatic relations.

The Broader Regional Security Architecture

Military and security cooperation between Israel and Gulf Arab states has expanded steadily since the Abraham Accords were signed between Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain in September 2020. Shortly after those accords, Israel was moved from the European Command's area of responsibility into CENTCOM's jurisdiction — a bureaucratic shift that allowed Israel to formally cooperate militarily with Arab countries under the same US regional command structure, particularly around air and missile defense integration.

Deepening Cooperation During the War

Since the current conflict with Iran began, Israel has worked directly with the UAE and United States on both defensive and offensive operations, deploying Iron Dome batteries and Israeli troops to the UAE, and providing the country with real-time intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance assistance. Officials indicated cooperation with Saudi Arabia specifically could now expand further following last week's meeting.

Part of a Longer History of Quiet Coordination

This isn't the first time such under-the-radar military coordination has occurred between Israel and Arab states over Iran-related threats. A similar secret meeting was reported to have taken place in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, in 2022, when top Israeli and Saudi military officials met to discuss regional air defense coordination against Iranian ballistic missile and drone capabilities — suggesting this kind of quiet, CENTCOM-brokered engagement has been a recurring feature of the broader US-led regional security effort for several years, even before the current war began.

The Timing's Significance

The Germany meeting reportedly took place as Gulf Arab states postponed planned diplomatic talks with Iran following fresh Houthi strikes on Saudi Arabia — meaning the secret military coordination effort was unfolding in parallel with, and arguably as a direct counterpoint to, the collapse of that separate diplomatic track through Oman.

What's Next

With CENTCOM confirming the gathering occurred but offering only limited public detail, and no participating government having formally disclosed the meeting on its own initiative, further specifics about what concrete cooperation — if any — emerged from the talks may only surface gradually. For continuing coverage, see the original Axios report.