As Israel was conducting a ruthless onslaught in Gaza that was widely condemned by Arab states, the leaders of several Gulf states met with Tel Aviv for security discussions hosted by the US. The US was working to build an anti-Iranian bloc. 

The Washington Post reported on Saturday that it obtained documents that show, “Over the past three years, facilitated by the United States, senior military officials from Israel and six Arab countries came together for planning meetings in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan and Qatar.”

The US Qatar. Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates participated in the sessions. 

One of those meetings occurred at the Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. Last month, Israel attempted to kill Hamas leaders in Qatar. While the strikes missed their intended targets, one Qatari security official was killed. 

The strikes caused a significant rift in the relationship between the US, Israel, and Qatar that President Donald Trump has been attempting to mend. Trump mediated a call between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Qatari leader. Additionally, Trump signed an executive order promising Qatar military support if its sovereignty is violated. 

The planning sessions began in 2022, but continued after the Israeli onslaught began in Gaza. The Arab states participating in the meeting have publicly stated Israel is conducting a genocide in the Strip. 

The meetings were intended to remain private, and the participants acknowledged that the planning sessions would not result in an alliance. 

The documents viewed by the Post show that combating Iran was the primary purpose of the meetings between Israel and Arab states. In the documents, a US official describes Iran and its allies in the region as the “Axis of Evil.”

The US is aiming to establish the ability to down Iranian missiles and drones over the Middle East. During the 12 Day War, the US downed Iranian missiles targeting Israel over Arab states, including Jordan.