New U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Chief Adm. Brad Cooper met with Israeli Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Eyal Zamir on Saturday for the first time since assuming his post, reaffirming Washington’s “ironclad commitment” to Israel’s security. Their talks centered on countering threats from Iran and its proxies—Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen—while also highlighting the strong military cooperation between the U.S. and Israel. Hezbollah and the Houthis escalated attacks on Israel after Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 massacre, with Hezbollah alone firing thousands of rockets and drones into northern Israel. Israel’s military campaign that followed killed thousands of Hezbollah operatives and decimated its leadership, including Hassan Nasrallah, leading to a ceasefire in November 2024.

Adm. Cooper, who previously directed U.S. operations against the Houthis, now oversees U.S. forces across the Middle East and is working with Israel and the Lebanese government to push for Hezbollah’s disarmament—a long-standing Israeli demand. However, Hezbollah’s current leader Naim Qassem has rejected these calls, claiming that disarming would serve “the Israeli project” and accusing Israel of aggression despite Hezbollah’s role in initiating the conflict. The group has warned that any attempt to strip it of weapons could spark bloodshed and possibly another civil war in Lebanon. These tensions underscore the immense challenge facing the U.S. and Israel as they seek to stabilize the region and curb Iranian-backed militancy.

SOURCE: All Israel News