Israeli, British military chiefs talk regional security in Tel Aviv

JERUSALEM

Nine months into Israel’s war on Gaza, the nation’s Chief of General Staff Herzi Halevi and his British counterpart Adm. Tony Radakin met in Tel Aviv to discuss strategic security issues and areas of cooperation between their countries.

In a statement, Israeli military spokesperson Avichay Adraee said the Friday meeting involved a joint assessment of the security situation, with a focus on enhancing strategic cooperation in the region.

On the same day, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant hosted his British counterpart John Healey in his first visit to Israel since taking office.

In a statement, Gallant said that they discussed “the important defense ties between Israel and the UK, and our shared commitment to maintaining and further strengthening cooperation in a number of strategic and military areas.”

The visits come months into the war on Gaza, which is drawing growing international condemnation, as well as rising tensions and the potential for a broader conflict between Iran and the Lebanese Hezbollah group on one side and Israel on the other.

The tension follows the assassination of senior Hezbollah commander Fuad Shukr by Israel on Tuesday and accusations by the Palestinian group Hamas and Iran that Israel assassinated Haniyeh in the Iranian capital Tehran on Wednesday.

Hamas and Iran have vowed to retaliate for Haniyeh's assassination, while Hezbollah has pledged to respond to Shukr's killing.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi in Ankara