Archive · 16 Sep 2026
US, Israel and Arab Commanders Hold Private Iran War Meeting
Military leaders from the United States, Israel and several Arab countries met in Germany.
The meeting was reportedly private and was not announced by the governments involved.
They talked about the war with Iran and other security problems in the Middle East.
The meeting was organized by United States Central Command leader Adm.
Brad Cooper.
Cooper reportedly said the United States did not plan to remove its forces from the region.
He also discussed increasing ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.
Israeli military chief Gen.
Eyal Zamir briefed the group about Israel Defense Forces operations.
The meeting happened while Houthi forces were attacking Saudi Arabia and expanding control near an important Red Sea waterway.
United States Central Command confirmed the meeting but described it as a scheduled conference involving eight nations.
Senior military leaders from the United States, Israel and seven Arab countries reportedly met privately in Germany last week.
The reported participants included Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt.
The meeting was organized by United States Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper and was not publicly announced by participating governments.
United States Central Command confirmed hosting senior military leaders from eight nations to discuss stronger Middle East security cooperation, creating a discrepancy with the reported participant count.
Discussions reportedly covered the Iran war, continued United States military presence, Strait of Hormuz shipping and responses to intensified Houthi attacks near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
- Who
- Senior military leaders from the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt; the report specifically identified Adm. Brad Cooper and Gen. Eyal Zamir.
- What
- A private meeting about the Iran war, Middle East security tensions and expanded regional military cooperation.
- When
- Last week, according to the reports; it was described as the first gathering of its kind since the United States and Israel went to war with Iran.
- Where
- Germany.
- Why
- To discuss security cooperation, the United States military presence, shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, Israeli military operations and responses to Houthi attacks.
- Organizer
- United States Central Command, led by Adm. Brad Cooper.
- Reported participants
- The United States, Israel and seven Arab countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Jordan and Egypt.
- Official confirmation
- United States Central Command said it hosted senior military leaders from eight nations during a scheduled conference in Germany.
- Reported discrepancy
- The reports described the United States, Israel and seven Arab countries, while the United States Central Command statement referred to eight nations.
- United States position
- Adm. Brad Cooper reportedly said the United States had no plans to withdraw its forces from the region.
- Israeli briefing
- Gen. Eyal Zamir briefed participants on Israel Defense Forces operations across several fronts.
- Regional backdrop
- Houthi forces intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia and expanded control around the Bab al-Mandeb Strait.
- Regional cooperation
- The meeting reflected increased military and intelligence cooperation between Israel and Arab countries since the 2020 Abraham Accords.
