That is the message IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Aviv Kochavi has conveyed to senior American officials during his visits to the White House and the Pentagon focused on threats emanating from Iran.
By Erin Viner
In several meetings that took place on Monday, Lt. Gen Kochavi discussed “the focal points of the situation in the region,” said the IDF in a statement.
“We are at a critical point in time that requires the acceleration of operational plans and cooperation against Iran and its terrorist proxies in the region,” the Israeli military leader stated following talks with United States National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.
Israel and the US have long discussed a ‘Plan B’ aimed at preventing Iranian acquisition of a nuclear weapon, including possible military strikes.
During his visit to the region last summer when signing a joint pledge with Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid, US President Joe Biden declared willingness to use force if necessary to prevent Iran from acquiring atomic bombs – a vow that was reaffirmed by Sullivan to Kochavi in Washington.
Following Gen. Kochavi’s round of talks with Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff General Mark Milley, he expressed gratitude to “the governing authorities and senior members of the US defense institutions for their partnership and support for the State of Israel and the Israeli military.”
“On the one hand, Iran is under many economic, military, and internal pressures, and on the other hand, it continues to promote its nuclear program,” stated Kochavi, while stressing it is imperative to stop the Ayatollah regime from further advancing its nuclear program.
“Our deep cooperation with our greatest ally was and continues to be a central pillar of our national security,” he stressed.
During his meeting with Gen. Milley, the IDF Chief was awarded the US Armed Forces Legion of Merit for meritorious and outstanding achievements as well as his role in strengthening Israeli-US defense and strategic bonds.
In related matters, the IDF announced yesterday that a bilateral Israeli-US militaries will conduct a joint aerial exercise in the near future that will include simulated scenarios of attacks against Iran and its proxies in the Middle East. This will mark the second time the two countries will hold such a drill.
Earlier this month, Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz stated that the IDF “has the capability to operate in Iran and we must continue strengthening it.”
The Ayatollah regime has repeatedly vowed to annihilate the Jewish State. Israel has consistently warned that its arch-enemy will try to secure a windfall in sanctions relief at the talks, without sufficiently rolling back nuclear bomb-making potential through its accelerated enrichment of uranium.