Military commanders from the US, Israel, and several Arab countries convened in Germany last week for a discussion organized by US Central Command (CENTCOM) Chief Admiral Brad Cooper that centered on the conflict with Iran, Israeli officials told Axios.
The countries that attended the meeting included the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, the UAE, and Egypt.
None of the participating countries made an official announcement of the rare meeting involving Israeli and Arab counterparts.
CENTCOM later confirmed the meeting had occurred.
In the meeting, Cooper reassured the chiefs of staff that the US would not withdraw its forces from the region in the face of Iranian attacks on US bases throughout the Middle East, according to Axios. He also briefed the military leaders on US plans to secure the Strait of Hormuz and increase maritime traffic.
Cooperation between Israel and Arab states
Israeli officials also told Axios that the IDF Chief of Staff, Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir, briefed the Arab nations on Israel's operations on its various fronts.
The open communication of military intelligence potentially signals the strengthening of ties between Israel and nearby Gulf States in the vein of the Abraham Accords.
Israel's ambassador to the UAE, Yossi Shelley, said earlier this week that Kuwait is likely to join the Abraham Accords within four to six months.
Trump also held talks with leaders from throughout the Middle East, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, as well as leadership from Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Bahrain and Jordan.
He said that “after the great work the United States has invested in formulating [an] agreement, the countries involved should sign the Abraham Accords simultaneously.”
Houthi attacks escalate regional conflict, Iranian proxies a threat to Gulf
The meeting comes as the Houthis have stepped up attacks on Saudi cities and energy infrastructure while advancing along Yemen's Red Sea coast towards the Bab al-Mandab Strait, a key shipping route.
The escalation has opened a second theater in the wider regional conflict and raised concerns over Saudi oil exports and global shipping.
Trump did not agree to US strikes on the group, but Washington told Riyadh it would provide intelligence-sharing and targeting assistance, the sources added.
Jerusalem also committed to assisting Riyadh in its defense against the Houthi threat by providing military intelligence in a recent meeting between Israel and Saudi Arabia mediated by CENTCOM.
On Monday, thirteen civilians were wounded in strikes by the Iran-backed Houthis on the Saudi cities of Khamis Mushait, Abha, and Taif.
Reuters contributed to this report.