Iran and Egypt are spearheading calls for a NATO-style military alliance in the Middle East as leaders gather in Qatar for an emergency Organization of Islamic Cooperation summit. The proposal, prompted by Israel's recent strike on a Doha compound housing Hamas negotiators, represents the most significant push for a unified regional defense pact in decades.
The initiative follows a series of Israeli military actions including attacks on Iranian targets, ongoing operations in Gaza, and the Doha strike that killed five Hamas members and a Qatari security officer. Muslim leaders increasingly view Israel as a destabilizing force across the region.
Egypt proposes establishing a Cairo-based joint military command, while Iranian officials advocate for an even broader coalition. Mohsen Rezaei, former commander of Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps, warned that Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Iraq could become future targets without decisive action.
Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani condemned Israel's strike as "an assault on the principle of mediation itself" and urged Muslim nations to adopt tangible measures to prevent further escalation. The emergency summit will test whether the 57-member OIC can transform rhetorical calls for unity into concrete military cooperation.
Qatari PM Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani (Reuters)
The proposal has exposed tensions with Washington, where President Donald Trump acknowledged the need for caution while maintaining support for Israel. The outcome could potentially reshape regional power dynamics and challenge America's role as security guarantor in the Middle East.
