US Central Command (CENTCOM) Commander Adm. Brad Cooper landed in Israel on Saturday afternoon and is expected to meet with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and other senior military officials for a multi-front situational assessment.
According to a report by Kan News, Cooper arrived in Israel after holding meetings in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. His visit comes amid optimistic statements from both the Iranian president and the US vice president regarding the possibility of a new ceasefire agreement.
Meanwhile, the United States is still on high alert in the Middle East, with dozens of US refueling aircraft and fighter jets, air defense systems, and thousands of American troops remain deployed in Israel; Cooper is expected to visit these forces during his stay.
Cooper is also expected to hold discussions on the situation in the Gaza Strip. In recent weeks, the US administration has reportedly increased pressure on Israel to move to the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire, despite Hamas' continued efforts to rearm and target Israeli troops.
Earlier this week, the "Board of Peace" claimed progress in talks with Hamas. Israel's Security Cabinet is expected to consider the proposed framework and timetable, which reportedly include a phased Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, contingent on Hamas disarming and the establishment of a technocratic government.