Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz Meets with US Central Command Chief

Top Israeli and US military officials discussed regional security challenges, including Iran and Syria.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz met with US Central Command chief General Michael Kurilla in Israel on Monday to discuss regional security challenges, including Iran and Syria, the Israeli Defense Ministry said in a statement.

The meeting comes as tensions have been rising between Israel and Iran, with Israel accusing Iran of supplying Russia with drones for use in the war in Ukraine. Israel also views Iran's nuclear program as a major threat, and has been pressing the US to take a tougher stance against it.

In addition to Iran, Gantz and Kurilla also discussed the situation in Syria, where Israel has been carrying out airstrikes against Iranian targets. The two sides also discussed the ongoing US-led campaign against the Islamic State group in Syria and Iraq.

The meeting between Gantz and Kurilla is a sign of the close military cooperation between Israel and the US, and the two countries are likely to continue to coordinate closely on regional security issues in the future.