US military aid commander: The moment Israel notifies us, we will be there to help

American-Israeli JDF-I is trained to operate platforms such as Patriot air defenses in wartime.

By YAAKOV LAPPIN
LT.-GEN. DARRYL ROBERSON (right), commander of the Joint Defense Force-Israel. (photo credit: IAF)
LT.-GEN. DARRYL ROBERSON (right), commander of the Joint Defense Force-Israel.
(photo credit: IAF)
The commander of a US military force tasked with the mission of assisting Israel in a time of war, if asked to, affirmed his commitment and readiness for the mission during a visit to Israel this week.
Lt.-Gen. Darryl Roberson, commander of the JDF-I (Joint Defense Force-Israel), took command several months ago and arrived in Israel in recent days to meet counterparts in the Israel Air Force’s Active Defense Division (air defenses).
The JDF-I is primarily tasked with assisting in air defense missions, and would operate platforms such as Patriot surface-to-air missiles to help intercept incoming threats.
“We have a deep, uncompromising commitment to the security of the State of Israel, a commitment that is based on the special relationship between our countries.
The moment the State of Israel notifies us that it is in need of our assistance, we will come to help in defending it,” Roberson said on Wednesday, according to the IAF.
Roberson has spent recent days getting acquainted with the various units of the IAF’s Active Defense Division, which can deploy a range of air defense systems ranging from Iron Dome anti-rocket batteries to Arrow 2 anti-ballistic missile interceptors.
Roberson and his counterparts discussed some of the lessons learned from the Juniper Cobra 14 joint drill, held in May, which was a computer-simulated bilateral air defense exercise.
“We work jointly during our routine so that, in times of war, we will be able to do our job as best as we can. We have to train together because the mission is a complex and a critical one,” the commander said.
“Naturally, I cannot discuss the numbers of troops [who can deploy to Israel] or describe all the weapon systems, but what is important is the fact that we will bring with us everything necessary to defend the State of Israel,” he said.