Senior U.S. and Israeli military chiefs held a private, previously unreported meeting at the Pentagon as tensions with Iran rose. The closed-door talks involved U.S. General Dan Caine and Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir; officials gave no further details. The meeting coincides with heightened U.S. naval and air-defence deployments in the Middle East and Iranian warnings that an attack could trigger a regional conflict. Israel's defence minister later met Zamir to review the military's operational readiness.
Top U.S. and Israeli Military Chiefs Hold Private Pentagon Talks as Iran Tensions Escalate
The Pentagon building is seen in Arlington, Virginia, U.S. October 9, 2020. REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Feb 1 (Reuters) - Senior U.S. and Israeli military leaders met privately at the Pentagon on Friday as tensions with Iran surged, two U.S. officials told Reuters on Sunday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The closed-door meeting brought together U.S. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Eyal Zamir, Chief of Staff of the Israeli armed forces. The officials declined to provide details about the discussions, and the meeting had not been previously reported.
The talks come as the United States has increased its naval presence and strengthened air defences across the Middle East after President Donald Trump repeatedly warned Iran, seeking to pressure Tehran back to negotiations. Iran's leadership on Sunday warned that a U.S. attack could spark a wider regional conflict.
Following the Pentagon meeting, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz met with Zamir in Israel, Katz's office said. The pair reviewed the regional situation and assessed the Israeli military's "operational readiness for any possible scenario."
Context and Significance
While officials provided no specifics about the agenda, such high-level military consultations signal close coordination between the U.S. and Israel amid heightened tensions with Iran. Observers say increased naval deployments and air-defence postures are intended to deter escalation while giving diplomatic pressure more leverage.
Reporting by Phil Stewart; Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Hugh Lawson.
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