US CENTCOM Chief And Israeli Defense Minister Discuss Iranian Terror Activities

TEL AVIV-YAFO, Israel — Gen. Michael Kurilla, head of the U.S. military’s Central Command (CENTCOM), met with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi in Tel Aviv on Wednesday.

Defense Minister Gallant and Gen. Kurilla discussed “the Iranian terror activity throughout the Middle East, including financing, training and the transfer of weapons to the terror organizations in Syria and Lebanon,” according to a readout of the meeting provided by the Israeli Defense Ministry.

They also talked about “the progress in the security-military coordination between Israel and the U.S., to prevent Iran from obtaining military nuclear weapons.”

“Minister Gallant emphasized to General Kurilla the importance of continuing military, security and technological cooperation against the growing threats in the region,” said the statement.

“We have given new details to the International Atomic Energy Agency about two sites near Tehran where the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s inspectors had found traces of highly-enriched uranium,” said Iran on Wednesday.

It was the fifth official meeting between Kurilla and Gallant, with Wednesday’s consultations taking place in the Defense Ministry’s tower at the Kirya military headquarters.

On Tuesday evening, Gallant spoke by phone with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin following the passage in the Knesset of the first law in the governing coalition’s  judicial reform initiative.

Austin “underscored the United States’ belief that broad consensus through political dialogue, especially in the coming weeks and months, are critical elements of a resilient democracy.”

According to the Pentagon’s readout of the call, Austin reiterated that the “U.S. commitment to Israel’s security is steadfast and unwavering, and affirmed that the Department of Defense is focused on initiatives that deepen military cooperation.”

Israeli media reported that Iranian elements were likely behind a network of social media bots aiming to intensify divisions within the country over a series of judicial reforms proposed by its current government

Produced in association with Jewish News Syndicate

Edited by Judy J. Rotich and Newsdesk Manager