Arab states quietly expanded military cooperation with Israel during Gaza war

(Representative Image)

Leaked files reviewed by The Washington Post and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists reveal that Israel and six Arab states — Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — held joint meetings and training sessions facilitated by US Central Command. The cooperation intensified between 2022 and 2025, even as Arab governments denounced Israeli military actions in Gaza, the Washington Post reported.

Ceasefire oversight role

Israel and Hamas agreed this week to a ceasefire that includes hostage releases and partial Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. US officials said 200 American troops will deploy to Israel to support the deal, joined by soldiers from some Arab countries involved in the security framework. The arrangement aligns with President Trump’s 20-point plan, which calls for Arab states to help oversee Gaza through an international force that would train a new Palestinian police service.

Iran as the unifying threat

The documents show that Iran and its allied militias were identified as the main driver of cooperation. Centcom presentations described Iran as the “Axis of Evil” and emphasized joint air-defence projects. By 2024, many Arab partners had been linked to US systems, sharing radar and sensor data and gaining access to secure communications with Israel and US forces.

Training against tunnel warfare

Meetings included US-led training sessions on detecting and destroying subterranean tunnels, a tactic heavily used by Hamas. Exercises took place not only in the Middle East but also at US military sites such as Fort Campbell, Kentucky, underscoring Washington’s role in integrating Israeli and Arab militaries.

Diplomatic sensitivities and tensions

Despite the cooperation, Arab leaders publicly condemned Israel’s campaign. Qatar called it genocide at the UN, while Saudi Arabia accused Israel of starvation and ethnic cleansing. After Israel’s strike on Qatar in September, trust in the partnership was shaken, with analysts warning it could undermine US credibility in the region. To avoid political fallout, documents stressed that the initiative “does not form a new alliance” and that meetings must remain confidential.

Looking ahead

Centcom planners envision expanding the framework, with proposals for a Middle East cyber centre and an information fusion hub by 2026. Analysts caution, however, that political tensions between Israel and Arab states may limit the long-term effectiveness of the cooperation. While the leaked files show unprecedented security ties, the gap between quiet military collaboration and public denunciations of Israel highlights the fragile balance the US is trying to manage in the region.