IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir held talks last weekend in Washington with American officials about Iran and a possible strike.
The chief of staff flew to the US on Thursday night and returned to Israel early Sunday morning. Joining his flight were Maj. Gen. Hidai Zilberman, head of the Planning Division and until recently the IDF's defense attaché in Washington; Col. M., head of the Operations Branch; Col. Omer Tishler, the incoming Israeli Air Force commander; and Col. Amit Adler, head of the Strategic Communications Division.
Lt. Gen. Zamir met with General Dan Caine, chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, and discussed with him and his team all operational options and their implications.
As of now, Israeli officials cannot say whether the US will actually strike Iran, and what the nature of the attack would be if it happens. The chief of staff tried to present Israeli interests to his counterparts. However, even after Zamir's series of meetings in the US, Israeli officials still do not know what the US will do and maintain that only Trump will make the decision.
In fact, with Ron Dermer no longer coordinating between Israel and the US and Tzachi Braverman also tied up, the chief of staff remains the only significant liaison between Israel and the US, aside from the prime minister himself, making his trip highly significant.
Notably, the Military Intelligence Directorate head Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder also visited the US last week. Additionally, the commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), Admiral Brad Cooper, visited Israel last weekend.
During the visit, Cooper and Zamir held an extended personal meeting, during which they discussed security and strategic issues. Afterward, another meeting was held with senior officials from both militaries to discuss ongoing military and defense cooperation between Israel and the United States.
Meanwhile, a report in The Wall Street Journal claimed Sunday that American forces are still not ready to deliver the type of blow that President Donald Trump requested, partly due to a shortage of air defense systems for Washington's allies in the region, including Israel.
