CENTCOM chief in Israel as Biden, Trump clinch Gaza ceasefire deal
Army Gen. Erik Kurilla's latest trip to Israel came in the final days of Biden's presidency, as White House officials sought to capitalize on the broad defeat of the IRGC's multinational bulwark of armed militias.
WASHINGTON — As negotiators in Doha pored over the details of a ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hamas, the top commander of US military forces in the Middle East met with top Israeli military officials on his last tour of the region under the Biden administration.
Gen. Kurilla met with Israel Defense Forces Chief Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi and Israeli Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar after arriving in Israel on Monday following stops in Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and Bahrain earlier this week.
"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," a statement by US Central Command (CENTCOM) read.
Kurilla received briefings on IDF operations and capabilities "and updates on shared threats," CENTCOM said. He and Halevi also discussed implementation of the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, under which Israel's military is required to withdraw back across the border into Israel by Jan. 26.
