Wednesday May 14, 2025
HE
NEWSLETTER
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
  • In Memoriam
www.israelhayom.com
Home Commentary

A secret de facto alliance worked wonders on a crucial night against Iran

Even in the Regional Cooperation Department of the IDF's Strategic Division, they were burning the midnight oil in the late hours on Saturday and early Sunday. The language used in those hours was Arabic, and the content of the conversations was intelligence updates based on developments before, during, and after the attack. More than one country was on the line with the Israeli officers – and not all have formal ties with Israel.

by  Ariel Kahana
Published on  04-16-2024 15:57
Last modified: 04-16-2024 15:57
Sirens, explosions heard throughout Israel as IDF repels Iranian airborne assaultUsage under Israel's Intellectual Property Law Section 27a

Interceptions above the Knesset during the Iranian attack on Israel in April, 2024 | Photo: Usage under Israel's Intellectual Property Law Section 27a

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

The details of the dramatic moments in which Israel halted the largest ballistic missile attack in world history on Saturday night will remain officially undisclosed. There is no doubt that the Israeli Air Force pilots and air control personnel excelled in their performance. However, they could not have done it alone.

Even in the Regional Cooperation Department of the IDF's Strategic Division, they were burning the midnight oil in the late hours on Saturday and early Sunday.

The language used in those hours was Arabic, and the content of the conversations was intelligence updates based on developments before, during, and after the attack. More than one country was on the line with the Israeli officers – and not all have formal ties with Israel. In other words, the coalition that operated against Iran extended beyond the countries that have an official peace agreement with Israel.

According to foreign reports, in addition to Jordan, Egypt, Bahrain, Morocco, and the United Arab Emirates, there was also close contact with Saudi Arabia that night. It is worth noting that the UAE possesses Barak missiles, and that a third of Israel's defense exports in 2022 were directed toward the Abraham Accords countries. These numbers speak for themselves.

Going back to that dramatic night – secrecy does not allow the disclosure of the operational content of the conversations between the Israeli officers and their Arab counterparts. What can be said, according to foreign reports, is that the Israeli Air Force intercepted some of the drones as they were flying in the airspaces of neighboring countries.

For this to happen, the entities in those countries that maintain contact with the IDF were also awake all night. They received intelligence updates from the Israeli side and passed them on to their forces. In parallel, they relayed the picture known to them to their Israeli counterparts. 

Cooperation between the IDF and Arab military headquarters had been taking place in an intimate and close manner for several years. Due to the sentiment on the Arab street, the parties have concealed the degree of the connection, but clues have been abundantly provided in recent years.

The sight of Israeli paratroopers jumping shoulder-to-shoulder with counterparts from the UAE and Bahrain sent a strong hint to those with keen observation skills. The sight of Emirati aircraft taking off alongside the blue Star of David, from runways in Europe, was not intended for air games. Mutual defense memoranda between the countries, secret meetings between IDF officers and their counterparts several times a year, the joint agreement initiated and led by the United States, the exercises conducted since the end of the previous decade, the recent enhancement of operational readiness through coordinated interception of previous missiles and drones from Iraq and Yemen, and even the coalition's failure to stop the Iranian attack on the UAE in 2022 – all seemed to prepare the players for the tense hours between Saturday and Sunday.

The glorious operational success – which benefited from no small miracle, with half of the Iranian missiles experiencing failure – is particularly a success for the US Central Command (CENTCOM), which translated the players' interests into practical military-political action. This is the axis around which Iran's regional enemies have united.

Still, it cannot be called an alliance. According to the mutual agreements, each country decides how to act in every situation based on its own considerations. In other words, the content is determined concretely according to the situation. However, the communication channels, common language, staff work, mutual understanding of capabilities, and sensitivities of each side were all prepared in previous years under fundamental American leadership. The cooperation works by having a shared system managed by CENTCOM, into which information is streamed. However, beyond that, bilateral contact takes place between Israel and its regional partners.

The preparations were so thorough that no special regional preparedness was required ahead of the Iranian attack, only the implementation of what had been built in the past. It was no coincidence that the commander of the US Central Command, Michael (Erik) Kurilla, visited Israel and the region intensively in recent years. Much of the credit for the regional and operational success belongs to him.

This is how the cooperation worked, very successfully, sending a clear message to the entire world. A new bloc has hatched from its egg, building wings and muscles: Israel, the West, and Arab countries, together against Iran.

Tags: Gaza War

Related Posts

Mediators to present new hostage deal EPA

The US proposal to Hamas that has Israel worried

by Shirit Avitan Cohen

The Witkoff framework will serve as the basis for renewed talks and will once again consist of two stages. The...

Israel's dangerous diplomatic setbackIDF Spokesperson's Unit

584 days in captivity – and Qatar wants applause?

by Zina Rakhamilova

Nobody is fooled. The Qataris may have brokered Alexander’s release, but they are the ones who financed his abduction.

Critical hostage release talks: Israeli negotiating team heads to QatarGetty Images/iStockphoto

Critical hostage release talks: Israeli negotiating team heads to Qatar

by Shirit Avitan Cohen

Israeli officials indicate a desire to exhaust efforts to return the hostages – this is Hamas' last opportunity for a...

Menu

Analysis 

Archaeology

Blogpost

Business & Finance

Culture

Exclusive

Explainer

Environment

 

Features

Health

In Brief

Jewish World

Judea and Samaria

Lifestyle

Cyber & Internet

Sports

 

Diplomacy 

Iran & The Gulf

Gaza Strip

Politics

Shopping

Terms of use

Privacy Policy

Submissions

Contact Us

About Us

The first issue of Israel Hayom appeared on July 30, 2007. Israel Hayom was founded on the belief that the Israeli public deserves better, more balanced and more accurate journalism. Journalism that speaks, not shouts. Journalism of a different kind. And free of charge.

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il

Newsletter

[contact-form-7 id=”508379″ html_id=”isrh_form_Newsletter_en” title=”newsletter_subscribe”]

  • Home
  • News
    • Gaza War
    • US Election Coverage
    • Middle East
    • Cyber & Internet
    • Business & Finance
    • Sports
  • Opinions
  • Jewish World
    • Archaeology
    • Antisemitism
  • Lifestyle
    • Food
    • Travel
    • Fashion
    • Culture
  • Magazine
    • Feature
    • Analysis
    • Explainer
    • Environment & Wildlife
    • Health & Wellness
  • In Memoriam
  • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Submit your opinion
  • Terms and conditions

All rights reserved to Israel Hayom

Hosted by sPD.co.il