Defense Minister Benny Gantz on Friday met with the chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Mark Milley, during the latter’s trip to the region, as heightened tensions grip the region three weeks after the assassination of Iran’s top nuclear scientist, Mohsen Fakhrizadeh.IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi also attended the discussions, and recent developments, the current operational state of affairs and current defense challenges were on the agenda.Gantz emphasized the importance of placing continued pressure on Iran’s regime and said the IDF was ready to act on any aggression or nuclear armament by the Islamic Republic.“We will work in partnership to respond to any scenario on the Iranian front, and together with our allies, to confront our common threats to protect stability in the Middle East,” he said.Gantz thanked the Milley for the US’s commitment to Israel’s security, and expressed his appreciation of the close collaboration between the Israeli and American militaries – which, he reiterated, was vital for the two countries’ shared interests, those of their regional allies, and for Israel’s qualitative, quantitative and technological edge.Gantz stressed that the presence of US troops in the Middle East is an important component of regional security, which should be preserved.Milley also met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the two discussed similar topics.
Amid regional tensions, Gantz meets US Joint Chiefs Chairman
The three discussed current defense challenges and recent developments in the region and reviewed the current operational state of affairs.
