Washington’s top cabinet members gathered at the presidential retreat in Maryland for a confidential briefing on the evolving situation in the Middle East, Middle East Eye said, citing three U.S. officials familiar with the discussions. The session, organized by Vice President JD Vance, focused on possible next actions in the ongoing confrontation with Iran and the intensifying hostilities between Saudi Arabia and Houthi forces in Yemen.
The meeting was not publicly announced by the administration, according to the outlet, marking it as a rare, behind‑the‑scenes coordination effort. The last comparable gathering of senior officials at Camp David was reported to have occurred in June 2025, shortly before Israel entered a direct conflict with Iran.
Attendees listed by the source included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, White House envoy Steve Witkoff, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Their presence underscores the breadth of the administration’s focus, spanning diplomatic, military, and intelligence perspectives.
While details of the deliberations remain undisclosed, the composition of the group suggests an integrated approach to shaping U.S. policy in the region. Analysts note that the inclusion of both the State and Defense secretaries, alongside senior intelligence leadership, points to a coordinated assessment of both diplomatic channels and potential military options.
The timing of the Camp David session coincides with heightened tensions across the Gulf, where Tehran’s activities and the Houthi missile and drone attacks on Saudi infrastructure have raised concerns about broader regional escalation. The United States, which maintains a strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia and has been vocal about curbing Iranian influence, appears to be calibrating its next steps.
Middle East Eye emphasized that the meeting’s secrecy reflects the administration’s desire to manage the narrative and avoid premature public statements while formulating a response. No official statements have been released by the White House regarding the outcomes of the Camp David discussion.
Reporting attribution: based on reporting by Middle East Eye — original source: https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/trumps-top-cabinet-members-discuss-iran-houthi-conflict-camp-david.