From the Liveblog of
Friday, April 12, 2024
Gallant meets visiting US CENTCOM chief to discuss readiness for Iran attack
Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
Defense Minister Yoav Gallant met with CENTCOM chief Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla at the Hatzor Airbase a short while ago to discuss “readiness for an Iranian attack against the State of Israel, which may lead to regional escalation,” his office says.
Kurilla’s trip to Israel comes amid threats by Iran to respond to the alleged assassination by Israel of two generals among several Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps officers in Syria’s Damascus last week.
“Our enemies think that they can pull apart Israel and the United States, but the opposite is true, they are bringing us together and strengthening our ties. We stand shoulder to shoulder,” Gallant says in a statement after the meeting.
“I am certain that the world sees the true face of Iran, the terrorist body that incites terror attacks across the Middle East, and funds Hamas, Hezbollah, and additional forces [proxies], and now also threatens the State of Israel,” he continues.
“We are prepared to defend ourselves on the ground and in the air, in close cooperation with our partners, and we will know how to respond,” Gallant adds.
The meeting between Gallant and Kurilla was also attended by the IDF Deputy Chief of Staff, Maj. Gem. Amir Baram, the head of the ministry’s Political-Military Bureau, Dror Shalom, and the minister’s military secretary, Brig. Gen. Guy Markizeno.
