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Arab States Expanded Cooperation with Israeli Military during Gaza War

(Washington Post) David Kenner - Even as key Arab states condemned the war in Gaza, they quietly expanded security cooperation with the Israeli military, leaked U.S. documents reveal. Over the past three years, facilitated by the U.S., senior military officials from Israel and six Arab countries came together for a series of planning meetings in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar. In May 2024, senior Israeli and Arab military officials convened at al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, with Israeli officials holding bilateral discussions with representatives from each of the attending Arab countries. The threat posed by Iran was the driving force behind the closer ties, which have been fostered by the U.S. military's Central Command. Five CENTCOM PowerPoint presentations, reviewed by the Washington Post, detail the creation of a "Regional Security Construct" that includes Israel, Qatar, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. The documents refer to Kuwait and Oman as "potential partners" that were briefed on all meetings. The documents show how the centerpiece of the construct was an air-defense plan to combat Iran's missiles and drones. A former U.S. defense official said that these engagements reflected the Gulf Arab states' pragmatic ties with Israel - and their respect for its military prowess. "They all seem to think the Israelis can do whatever they want, whenever they want, without detection."
2025-10-12 00:00:00
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