New CENTCOM chief Cooper wraps up first Israel visit

Stav Levaton is a military reporter for The Times of Israel

CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper, left, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir meet at the IDF's headquarters in Tel Aviv, in a photo cleared for publication September 6, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)
CENTCOM commander Adm. Brad Cooper, left, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir meet at the IDF's headquarters in Tel Aviv, in a photo cleared for publication September 6, 2025. (Israel Defense Forces)

The commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Adm. Brad Cooper, has wrapped up his first visit to Israel today as a guest of IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, the military says.

Cooper was received with an honor guard at the IDF’s Kirya headquarters in Tel Aviv before joining Zamir and members of the General Staff for an operational assessment that reviewed the current security situation and plans for the coming period.

He also toured Israeli communities along the Gaza border affected by the Hamas invasion of October 7, 2023, and ensuing war in the Strip.

Cooper took over Central Command last month from Gen. Michael Kurilla, a staunch Israel supporter and frequent visitor.

According to the IDF, Cooper’s visit focused on deepening operational cooperation between the American and Israeli militaries, preserving regional stability, and coordinating responses to shared threats across the Middle East.

Most Popular
If you’d like to comment, join
The Times of Israel Community.
Join The Times of Israel Community
Commenting is available for paying members of The Times of Israel Community only. Please join our Community to comment and enjoy other Community benefits.
Please use the following structure: example@domain.com
Confirm Mail
Thank you! Now check your email
You are now a member of The Times of Israel Community! We sent you an email with a login link to . Once you're set up, you can start enjoying Community benefits and commenting.