US Central Command commander visits Israel for talks

WASHINGTON

US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla visited Israel from Jan. 13-15. to engage in talks with several officials.

Kurilla met Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the chief of the General Staff of the Army; Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar, commander of the Israeli Air Force and members of the army staff.

"They discussed deepening the enduring defense partnership between the United States and Israel, threats to regional stability in the Middle East, and increasing interoperability and capabilities between our forces," CENTCOM said in a statement.

He also visited other army organizations and received operational briefings, capabilities and updates on shared threats.

Kurilla and Halevi discussed efforts and assessment of the implementation and monitoring mechanism of the cessation of hostilities between Israel and Lebanon, according to the statement.

He reiterated the "ironclad" military-to-military relationship between the US and Israel, it added.