Shin Bet, IDF chiefs visited Egypt today to discuss looming Rafah offensive – report

Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent

File: L-R: Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, and head of the Southern Command Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman attend a meeting at the command's HQ in Beersheba, March 9, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)
File: L-R: Shin Bet head Ronen Bar, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, and head of the Southern Command Maj. Gen. Yaron Finkelman attend a meeting at the command's HQ in Beersheba, March 9, 2024. (Israel Defense Forces)

The head of the Shin Bet security agency, Ronen Bar, and IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi visited Egypt this morning, the Axios news site reports.

The report, citing three senior Israeli officials, says Bar and Halevi met with Egypt’s intelligence chief and other key officials to discuss the IDF’s looming offensive in southern Gaza’s Rafah.

Egypt, which Rafah abuts, has warned Israel against pushing into the city where more than a million displaced Gazan civilians are residing.

Reuters quotes an unnamed Israeli defense official saying the IDF is poised to launch the Rafah operation immediately, and is awaiting government approval.

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