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Israel’s military chief has reportedly held a rare meeting with the heads of the armed forces of several Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia and Qatar, as well as the United States, to discuss Iran and regional security.
Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir is said to have attended the gathering at a German ski resort last week, alongside the head of US Central Command and military chiefs from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, Jordan and Egypt.
The meeting was first reported by news site Axios, citing two Israeli officials. US Central Command confirmed that a gathering took place, saying it “hosted senior military leaders from eight nations during a scheduled conference in Germany”, but did not confirm which countries were represented.
It came to light shortly after it emerged that UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham was considering sending military support to Saudi Arabia to defend the country against Houthi attacks.
The reported talks highlight the security relationships developing between Israel and Arab countries amid shared concerns over Iran and regional security.
Senior military officials from these countries convening would represent a significant level of regional security dialogue, although it does not necessarily indicate a formal military alliance or agreement on how to confront Iran and its regional allies.
The reported gathering comes as the United States seeks to coordinate its regional partners on defence and security, with Iran’s missile and drone capabilities remaining a central concern. According to reports, Israel and Saudi Arabia held separate talks mediated by US Central Command aimed at helping Riyadh defend itself against the Houthis through intelligence assistance.
It emerged yesterday that the UK is considering offering military support to Saudi Arabia after a following a request from Riyadh. Andy Burnham is weighing up whether to offer operational assistance to counter Houthi attacks and to defend against strikes on its oil infrastructure, according to US news site Bloomberg.
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