US military chief in Israel to discuss Iran threats

The top US commander for the Middle East visited Israel, Washington’s biggest ally in the region, amidst being on high alert after Iranian threats, the AFP reported.
Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder said on April 11 that Central Command chief General Michael Erik Kurilla is in the country, “to meet with key IDF leadership and discuss the current security threats in the region.”
Ryder added that the trip was moved up from a previously scheduled date due to recent developments in the region.
Israeli Defence Minister Yoav Gallant wrote on X, formerly Twitter, on April 12, “Recently completed a meeting with US CENTCOM Commander, General Michael Erik Kurilla – a true friend of Israel. We discussed the close cooperation between the United States and Israel, between our defense establishments and militaries. We stand shoulder to shoulder.”
Following the strike on the Iranian embassy in Damascus on April 1, which killed multiple key Iranian military men, Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei warned that Israel “must be punished”.
READ: Israel on red alert as Iran unleashes retaliation warning
The threats have left Israel in jeopardy – army reserves have been called up and leave has been suspended for all combat units.
For the first time ever, Israel deployed the C-Dome, the naval version of the Iron Dome, due to a “suspicious target” entering the country’s military airspace in the southern city of Eilat, the IDF said.
The C-Dome is designed to protect ships against various modern threats, often rockets and missiles.
On April 11, Gallant spoke to US officials including Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin who both emphasised that the US would strongly defend Israel.
Blinken said that the US would “stand with Israel against any threats by Iran and its proxies” whilst Austin noted that Israel was fully prepared should Iran launch a retaliation strike and that he had “ironclad” support for the state.
Mr Gallant told the US Defense Secretary that a “direct Iranian attack will require an appropriate Israeli response against Iran”.
AFP