The US military commander in the Middle East met Sunday with the commander of the Israeli Defense Force to discuss the integrated air and missile defense system.
CENTCOM Commander General Michael Kurilla and IDF Chief of Staff Lt General Aviv Kochavi discussed “he importance of an integrated air and missile defense system, as well as the continued need for strong regional security cooperation.”
According to a statement by CENTCOM Public Affairs, Kurilla told Kochavi “As President Biden said earlier this week in Israel, and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin echoed, the United States’ commitment to Israel remains ironclad. Regional security remains paramount for both CENTCOM and the IDF.”
Israel's Minister of Defense Benny Gantz, who also met with Kurilla during his visit to Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, boasted about “the unparalleled defense relations between Israel and the US,” highlighting CENTCOM’s important role in maintaining regional peace and stability.
In a speech at a ceremony marking the change of the military’s Home Front Command chief, Kohavi said Sunday that it is a “moral obligation and a national security order” to prepare a military response against Iran’s nuclear program.
“Preparing the home front for war is a task that must be accelerated in the coming years, especially in light of the possibility that we will be required to act against the nuclear threat. The IDF continues to prepare vigorously for an attack on Iran,” he said.
Tehran has repeatedly warned regional Arab countries over the plan to launch the air defense system with the United States and Israel to confront Iran's missiles and drones.