Syria, Lebanon join first U.S.-led regional defense dialogue
DAMASCUS, Syria (North Press) – The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Wednesday announced that it led a regional security dialogue in Bahrain on July 1, bringing together defense leaders from 12 Arab countries to discuss regional security developments and strengthen military cooperation.
In a statement, CENTCOM said its commander, Admiral Brad Cooper, held meetings with senior military officials from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates, and Yemen.
The command noted that the meeting marked the first U.S.-led regional defense conference to include military leaders from both Syria and Lebanon, describing it as a significant step toward expanding regional security cooperation.
“The security dialogue marked the first time military leaders from Syria and Lebanon participated in a regional defense conference led by the United States.”
The discussions focused on the current regional security environment and reaffirmed the importance of safeguarding the free flow of commerce, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global shipping route.
Cooper reiterated the United States’ commitment to working closely with regional partners to enhance security and stability, emphasizing continued coordination to counter shared threats and improve collective defense readiness.
According to CENTCOM, the dialogue also resulted in the establishment of a new Middle East Air Defense Coordination Cell, designed to facilitate the exchange of intelligence, early warning information, and emergency response coordination among participating countries.