Israel, Arab Countries Cooperate in Unofficial Defense Alliance Against Yemen, Iraq: Report

Israel and three Arab countries are reportedly engaged in an informal defense alliance, coordinating military efforts to counter aerial threats from Iraq and Yemen.

According to a recent report by Houthi-aligned Al Masirah citing  Hebrew publication Zman Israel, Israel, Jordan, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia are working together under the leadership of the U.S. to intercept missiles and drones in the Gulf of Aqaba, aiming to protect strategic sites, including the Israeli city of Eilat and nearby gas platforms.

The report described a collaborative regional defense structure, led by the United States Central Command based in Bahrain and Qatar. The command monitors Middle Eastern airspace through radar data collected from Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Gulf states. Although this alliance has not been publicly acknowledged, it provides a coordinated defense approach to protect strategic areas and maintain stability.

Israeli military sources noted that the recent surge in drone threats from Iraq and Yemen has prompted increased dialogue among the allied countries. The report highlighted that Israel’s military resources have been stretched during recent conflicts, with extensive efforts to counter missile and drone attacks across Israel's territories.

Lieutenant Colonel Tal, commander of the Israeli missile ship Eilat, described the interception task as challenging, likening it to “finding a needle in a haystack” due to the small and agile nature of these targets. Tal emphasized the difficulty of operating in the Gulf of Aqaba, a confined space shared by multiple countries requiring precise interception to avoid civilian harm. "This is not an open sea but a gulf with four countries—Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt—and discretion must be exercised regarding the proper location for intercepting the threat without harming civilians, ships, or aircraft,” he said.

The website noted that when a drone is detected by radar systems, whether aerial or ground-based, all relevant parties, including the air force, navy, and home front command, are immediately involved, marking the suspicious target on screens to ensure clear communication and prevent confusion. This activity is coordinated with other regional entities and, though not publicly acknowledged, Israel provides an aerial defense umbrella in the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea for neighboring countries near Eilat.

It also stated that the U.S. Central Command, based in Bahrain and Qatar, leads these efforts and monitors Middle Eastern skies using radar data from Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the Gulf states.