A recent Washington Post investigation has revealed that six Arab states — Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar — have quietly expanded their military cooperation with Israel over the past three years, citing sources familiar with classified operations.
According to the report, “despite harsh public condemnations of Israel by Arab governments during the Gaza war, many of these same countries have maintained close, secret military and intelligence coordination with Israel.”
A Covert Regional Defence Framework
Leaked US documents obtained by the Washington Post and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) indicate that at least six Arab states have been participating in a secret regional defence framework known as the “Regional Security Construct.” Kuwait and Oman were listed as potential future partners.
The mechanism, coordinated with the US Central Command (CENTCOM), functions as a clandestine network for intelligence sharing, joint training, and operational coordination — officially framed as a means to counter Iranian influence while strengthening military ties with Israel.
All meetings were classified as “supported and confidential,” with strict bans on photography and media contact. Internal memos even outlined kosher and halal food regulations, prohibiting pork and shellfish at all gatherings — a symbolic gesture to accommodate both Jewish and Muslim dietary codes.
Regional Summits and Joint Drills
Over the past three years, the network has reportedly organised a series of regional security summits and joint exercises stretching from Bahrain and Jordan to Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar and Fort Campbell in Kentucky. Senior officers from Israel, Arab nations, and the US military were in attendance.
One of the leaked documents described detailed international drills focused on detecting and destroying tunnels, a tactic notably used by the Palestinian resistance in Gaza. Another file outlined a joint training held in Egypt in September, involving forces from the United States, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, Greece, India, the UK, and Qatar.
The stated purpose of the initiative was to establish real-time coordination in intelligence, radar linkage, cyber communications, and missile-defence systems. Since 2022, participating nations have integrated their radar and sensor data with the US network to detect Iranian missiles and drones.
Direct Intelligence Channels and Encrypted Communication
The documents noted that two unnamed Arab states had shared intelligence directly with a US Air Force squadron. All participants reportedly use a secure, encrypted chat platform that connects directly to Washington and allied capitals.
CENTCOM briefings described Iran and its regional allies as the “Axis of Evil”, displaying maps highlighting missile threats from Gaza and Yemen.
From Washington’s perspective, this structure serves to promote the narrative of “regional prosperity and cooperation” — countering Tehran’s claim of defending Palestinians. Information about the initiative was even shared with members of the “Five Eyes” intelligence alliance (the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand), underscoring the global dimension of this secret network.
Future Plans and Saudi Arabia’s Expanding Role
Future plans reportedly include establishing a “Middle East Cyber Centre” and a “Regional Information Integration Hub” to facilitate real-time data exchange and train both Israeli and Arab specialists in cyber defence.
Saudi Arabia, according to the report, has played a particularly active role by providing intelligence on Syria, Yemen, and ISIS activity to both Israel and its Arab neighbours.
A major meeting held in January at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, involved exercises on detecting and neutralising offensive tunnels — a tactic heavily used in the Gaza conflict. Another briefing saw Saudi and American officials discussing Russian, Turkish, and Kurdish activity in Syria, alongside updates on Houthi threats in Yemen and ISIS operations in Iraq and Syria.
Fallout After Israeli Strike in Doha
Relations within the covert alliance reportedly suffered last month following an Israeli airstrike in Doha that targeted senior Hamas officials. The attack shocked Washington and angered Qatar, a key mediator with Hamas and an essential participant in the secret defence structure.
According to the report, President Donald Trump personally pressured Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to apologise during a phone call from the Oval Office and to pledge not to repeat such an act.
US military sources confirmed that American radar systems did not detect the Israeli aircraft, as they were primarily configured to monitor Iranian activity.
Arab Leaders’ Public Condemnations vs. Covert Cooperation
The leaked documents explicitly stressed that the cooperation “does not constitute a new alliance,” and that all meetings must remain confidential. Nonetheless, Arab leaders continued to denounce Israel publicly at international forums.
- Qatar’s Emir described Israel’s assault on Gaza as a “war of extermination.”
- Saudi Arabia accused Israel of “starving Palestinians and committing ethnic cleansing.”
Analysts cited by the Washington Post argue that these leaks reveal the deep dependence of Arab regimes on US security guarantees, even as they remain wary of Israel’s unchecked power.
As Professor Thomas Juneau of the University of Ottawa stated:
“Gulf states fear an unrestrained Israel, yet they rely on the United States and remain anxious about Iran’s growing influence.”
