Top US general in Europe pledges support for IDF

The commander of American military forces in Europe pledges to support the Israel Defense Forces in times of crisis, while visiting the army’s Tel Aviv headquarters during a joint US-Israel missile defense exercise, known as Juniper Cobra.

“The US is deeply committed to the defense of Israel. We will continue to work alongside the IDF to promote stability throughout the region, not only for the purposes of this exercise, but in the event of any real-world contingency,” says Commander of the European Command (EUCOM) Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti.

He makes his remarks during a meeting with IDF Chief of Staff Gadi Eisenkot and other senior army officers, including Military Intelligence chief Maj. Gen. Hertzi Halevi, head of IDF Operations Directorate Maj. Gen. Nitzan Alon, Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin and Head of the Planning Directorate Maj. Gen. Amir Abulafia.

“During the meeting, the commanders discussed the current situation in the Middle East and the evolving threats, as well as opportunities, including the strategic military cooperation,” the army says in a statement.

The American general arrived in Israel on Friday to oversee the Juniper Cobra exercise, in which thousands of American and Israeli troops will take part over the course of several weeks.

“General Scaparrotti’s visit proves once more the commitment of the United States to the security of the State of Israel. This is the ninth time that the IDF and the US military have trained together in the Juniper Cobra exercise. This training is intended to improve our ability to defend against missile and rocket threats and to advance the capabilities of both forces against various threats,” Eisenkot says during the meeting.

— Judah Ari Gross

הרמטכ"ל איזנקוט נפגש עם מפקד הפיקוד האירופי של צבא ארה"ב, גנרל קרטיס מ. סקפרוטי, שביקר בארץ @OrHeller pic.twitter.com/jL4c0acTlw

— חדשות 13 (@newsisrael13) March 11, 2018