In light of the close and effective cooperation between the Israel Defense Forces and the US military, Israeli security officials believe the Americans are considering moving forces to Israel from other countries in the region, or at the very least leaving a significant number of forces in Israel for the long term. The assessment is based, among other things, on the fact that unlike other countries in the region, Israel imposes no restrictions on US military activity. In addition, the US military has been given a close look at the IDF's capabilities, above all the power of the Israeli Air Force.
As previously reported, during Operation Roaring Lion, the two militaries removed mutual barriers. US military personnel worked from the Israeli "pit," the IDF's underground command center, and were exposed to the capabilities, as well as the weaknesses, of the IDF and the Air Force. At the same time, senior Israeli Air Force officials were in the US during the operation and were exposed to the advantages and disadvantages of the US military.
In a conversation between outgoing Israeli Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar and his American counterpart, the commander of AFCENT, who also attended last week's ceremony marking the change of command in the Air Force, the latter made clear that the current level of cooperation is the "baseline," and that there is no intention of going back.
A senior official told Israel Hayom that "There are American forces here that will not be moving in the near or even distant future. They have learned that Israel is a convenient fortress for operations, a country relatively far from the main threats and well protected by air defense systems." According to the official, another advantage for the Americans is the absence of restrictions on their activity. "Unlike other countries that restrict takeoffs for offensive operations or impose various conditions, Israel has no such restrictions," the official said.
Israeli security officials believe new US policy documents on the Middle East are currently being drafted, including a recommendation to maintain a permanent military presence in Israel over time. "It is still unclear whether this means defense batteries, fighter squadrons or other components," one security official noted, "but it is not inconceivable that the US' next base in the region will be in Israel."
At the same time, despite gaps between Israel and the US over how to act in various fronts, defense officials stress that coordination between the IDF and the US military remains full. "There is no scenario in which one side would be surprised by the other's activity," they said. According to the officials, close coordination is also being maintained at the diplomatic level between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump, even though there is not full agreement on every issue, particularly regarding the Lebanese and Iranian arenas.
