Israel and the United States are developing “joint military capabilities at accelerated pace" to counter evolving threats in the Middle East, and especially against Iran, Israel’s army chief of staff Aviv Kohavi said on Wednesday.
Kohavi made the remarks during his meeting with Commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM) General Michael Kurilla, who arrived in Israel on Tuesday in the fourth official visit since he assumed his post in April.
“We are operating together on all fronts to gather intelligence, neutralize threats, and prepare for various scenarios in either one or multiple arenas.”
The Israeli army said in a statement that Kurilla, alongside commanding general of the Israeli army’s Northern Command Major General Ori Gordin, visited the Rosh HaNikra crossing point on the Blue Line between Israel and Lebanon and the Alpha Line between Israel and Syria on the Golan Heights.
Gordin briefed Kurilla on the security challenges along each border, the threat posed by the Lebanese Hezbollah as a terrorist organization, and the strategic importance inherent in preserving security on the Israeli-Lebanese maritime border.
Kurilla also reviewed the efforts exerted to prevent Iran from positioning its arms on Syrian territory and recruiting citizens to carry out operations.
The army said Kurilla met with Kohavi and other senior military officers to discuss Israel’s efforts to obstruct Iran’s plans to establish a large military presence in Syria and transfer its weapons to Hezbollah.
Kurilla also visited the Nevatim Air Force Base southeast of Beer Sheva and the 116th “Lions of the South” Squadron, which operates the F-35i “Adir” aircraft.
Kohavi, Commanding Officer of the Israeli Air Force Major General Tomer Bar, and Nevatim Air Force Base commander Brigadier General Gilad Keinan accompanied Kurilla.
Kurilla and the army leaders discussed opportunities to improve integrated air and missile defense and regional security.
He later met incoming army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, who is due to take office on January 17.
