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On August 2, F-35s took off from Al Dhafra base in Abu Dhabi to southern Israel, where the United States conducted air training with the IDF. But this year the same training could take place in the Emirates, with the participation of the Gulf State Air Force as well … not because of the standardization agreement recently signed between the two countries, but because of Israel’s membership in Sentcom.
Israel became the 21st country on the list of countries included in the operations of the United States Central Command (Centcom), after the United States Department of Defense (the Pentagon) announced last Friday its intention to annex Israel to its area. central command in the Middle East.
The scope of responsibility of the central command includes 20 countries, namely (Afghanistan, Bahrain, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Jordan, Iran, Iraq, Kenya, Kuwait, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, United Arab Emirates United Arabs, Yemen, Seychelles).
Oded Berkowitz, an intelligence analyst at Max Security, a risk advisory group, says Israel’s relations with its neighbors have “forced” it to come under US leadership (AECOM) in recent years, but the situation has changed in recent years, especially the past year.
For decades, Israel has been a part of (AECOM) due to the hostile nature of its relations with many Arab countries, which made it difficult for the central command to work with both sides at the same time.
However, the situation which has now changed, according to Berkowitz, is represented in the “Abraham” agreements, which provide for the normalization of relations between Israel and a number of Arab countries (the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco) who took this step under the auspices of the United States represented by Jared Kushner, son-in-law of President Donald Trump and his adviser.
Retired Iraqi Major General Majid Al Qubaisi says the “Ibrahim” agreements that preceded Israel’s transfer of responsibility from AECOM to SENTCOM also paved the way for a process to include Israel in operations. of the central command.
Israel’s membership in Sentcom also comes after Saudi Arabia on Jan.5 announced an agreement, with U.S. backing, to end the dispute with Qatar, which is home to the largest U.S. military base in the region and where the US central command is located.
Cooperative
Berkowitz believes that Israel’s transfer of American European leadership to the Middle East will increase cooperation with certain “Sunni bloc countries”, represented primarily by the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, and that this cooperation could expand to Qatar and Oman.
Addressing Al-Hurra, he added: “The most obvious objective at this point is a hidden threat to Iran (…) Iran, of course, is the most important reason” for this transfer.
And at the end of last December, the US military sent two B-52 bombers, capable of carrying nuclear weapons, to the Middle East in a deterrent message to Tehran, but the bombers then left the area.
Regarding the cooperation that will bring together the armies of (Centcom), in particular the Arab armies, with the Israeli army, Berkowitz said: “Inevitably, the transfer will mean that the Israeli soldiers will be present in rotation in certain Arab countries which are printed or will be printed. “
This Israeli military presence will consist, in its first form, of delegations of officers, and in limited roles, according to Oded Berkowitz.
While security expert Oded Berkowitz sees Israel’s membership in Sentcom as a very positive step, he says it will remain dependent on “the continuation of relations between Israel and the Arab countries and their strengthening in the to come up”.
Post-accession obstacles
And if this US decision to annex Israel will complicate cooperation between Sentcom and Iran’s allies in Iraq, where 2,500 US troops are deployed, security expert Majid Al-Qaisi says: “Complications will arise in the future. in the areas of training, maneuvers and communications links falling under the responsibility of central command. “
In general, Al-Qubaisi believes that Israel’s membership in Sentcom will cause “future complications, particularly in the area of military coordination for the US central command and its regional allies.”
Regarding the benefits that the Qatar-based US Central Command will derive from Israel’s membership, the retired Iraqi general said: “Boost the capabilities of this leadership, given Israel’s military superiority, and broaden the arc of confrontation against Iran. “
Al-Qubaisi believes that Iran sees Israel’s membership in the US central command as a target, saying: “Iran will see this step as a greater threat to it, and for that it can conduct military operations. declared or by its agents in other countries. . “
Israeli gains
As to the gains Israel will save by joining Sentcom, Al Qubaisi said: “This step is seen as an approach to strategic borders, especially Iran.”
He explained: “Israel will be able to have unrestricted operational access at sea and in the air, and it will be able to send its ships to the Red Sea, the Arabian Sea and even approach the Gulf of Oman.”
“It can also use the airspace of neighboring countries, with the facilitation of central management, after being unable to use the airspace of these countries,” he added.
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