Maariv: The commander of CENTCOM makes a surprise visit to Israel and discusses the possibility of renewed escalation and an attack on Iran
US Admiral Brad Cooper, the new commander of the US Central Command (CENTCOM), made his first visit to Israel since assuming his position, during which he discussed the possibility of launching a new aggression against Iran in the coming months.
“This week, Admiral Brad Cooper visited Israel for the first time as commander of US Central Command,” CENTCOM said in a blog post on X, on Saturday morning.
The post added, “Cooper met with Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, Chief of the General Staff of the Israeli Defense Forces, to discuss regional security and the strong US-Israeli military alliance”.
“The United States maintains its unwavering commitment to Israel’s security, and we are committed to promoting regional security and stability,” Cooper was quoted as saying, despite Tel Aviv’s ongoing genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip with Washington’s full support.
US Central Command didn’t provide details regarding Cooper’s arrival date in Israel or the duration of the visit.
According to the Israeli Maariv newspaper, that Admiral Cooper met with officials in the Israeli military leadership and the security establishment on Friday, during his visit to Israel as part of a regional tour, without naming them.
Cooper’s visit to the region comes at a critical time, as he discussed the possibility of launching a new aggression against Iran in the coming months.
Maariv newspaper stressed that “cooperation with Cooper is important for coordinating Israel’s efforts with the United States in confronting Iran”.
On Thursday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed the possibility of renewed direct war with Iran in a press statement, issuing a threat.
Netanyahu said at the time: “We’ll act according to the extent of the danger coming from there, and if they have any sense, it’s inappropriate for them to bring this situation upon themselves”.
In this context, Maariv reported that Cooper’s visit addressed the issue of dealing with the Houthis in Yemen, after Israel achieved a major accomplishment by liquidating large parts of the government in Sana’a.
