The US Central Command (CENTCOM) said it led a regional security dialogue in Bahrain, with regional defense leaders from 12 countries , including Syria, on Wednesday.

CENTCOM said in a statement that Central Command commander Admiral Brad Cooper discussed with senior military commanders from Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen "the current regional security environment and opportunities to enhance defense cooperation across the region."

It added that during the meeting, the military commanders affirmed "their joint commitment to ensure the free flow of trade through the Strait of Hormuz."

"We continue to stand shoulder to shoulder with our regional partners," Cooper was quoted as saying in the statement. "The discussions underscored our shared commitment to regional security and stability," he said.

The CENTCOM statement noted that the United States and its regional partners operate "the world's largest and most sophisticated and active air and missile defense systems across the Middle East."

In January, the Central Command said it established with countries in the region a "new air defence coordination cell in the Middle East to share information and warnings of threats, as well as respond to emergency situations".

It also noted that it is the first time that military leaders from Syria and Lebanon have participated in a US-led security dialogue.

Former US official: Bahrain meeting aims to reassure partners

Former US Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs Barbara Leaf said that the meeting of US Central Command in Bahrain with a number of countries in the region aims to reassure partners and listen to their demands, and reaffirm their security and the US role.

In an interview with the "Other Dimension" program on Al-Sharq TV, which also carries a message to Iran, she added that several countries, including Gulf states, in addition to Egypt, Jordan, and Turkey, have interests in post-conflict security arrangements, and that these arrangements must govern (regulate) Iranian behavior.

In a related context, Leaf noted that US President Donald Trump is "thinking narrowly" in the post-conflict phase, noting that there is "uncertainty and ambiguity in the American vision" and that he is considering military options, while the real test remains how to open the Strait of Hormuz.

It added that Washington and Tehran have entered the "60-day window" dedicated to negotiations on the nuclear program, while the dispute between them, publicly and behind the scenes, revolves around the Strait of Hormuz, which the memorandum of understanding stipulates for its reopening.

Regarding Washington's vision for the next phase, Leaf said that she does not believe that the United States has so far formulated an integrated vision for the region, explaining that the memorandum of understanding only regulates the nuclear file, and does not address the entirety of Iranian threats and behavior or the issues of targeting civilian infrastructure, noting that the US administration is still listening to its partners in the region and has not yet provided clear answers or vision.