US Central Command chief Frank McKenzie was said to have been the senior US commander at the gathering, which was said to have achieved an 'in principle agreement' on procedures for notification via telephone or computer when aerial threats are detected. Non-binding commitments on which country's air defenses may respond to aerial threats were also made, although the arrangements are yet to be codified by the respective states' leaders.
Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Aviv Kochavi, Saudi armed forces chief of staff Fayyadh bin Hamed Al Ruwaili, and Qatari military chief Salem bin Hamad al-Nabit were said to have represented their respective countries at secret gathering. Commanders from Kuwait and Oman did not join the talks.
The reported March meeting was said to have been a follow-up to earlier secret negotiations at a lower-level by a working group, coordinated by now former CENTCOM chief planning officer Scott Benedict.
President Biden is expected to have a chance to discuss opportunities to deepen and expand the air defense negotiations during his trip to Israel, the occupied West Bank and Saudi Arabia next month.
Last week, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said Israel is helping build a US-led air defense alliance against Tehran, and that the partnership has already thwarted Iranian attacks.
"This program is already operative and has already enabled the successful interception of Iranian attempts to attack Israel and other countries," Gantz said. Biden's visit to the region "will support this process," he added.
An unnamed senior Israel official told WSJ the program is "still a work in progress" and "there are definitely partners who see it as too sensitive to talk about."
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