Risk of regional war declined 'somewhat': Highest US general discusses Iran threat, Hezbollah tensions with Israeli DM Gallant & IDF Chief Halevi
Gen. Brown met with Egyptian and Jordanian army chiefs before Israel visit
Mere hours after the largest exchange of fire between Israel and the terror group Hezbollah on Sunday morning, the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Charles Q. Brown, arrived for a visit to Israel.
Brown’s visit to the region was intended to “deter any type of broader escalation,” and began just hours before Hezbollah intended to carry out a broad assault on Israel that was foiled by the IDF.
Speaking with Reuters as he left the country, Gen. Brown said the immediate risk of a regional war had now declined "somewhat."
“You had two things you knew were going to happen. One’s already happened. Now it depends on how the second is going to play out,” he said.
“How Iran responds will dictate how Israel responds, which will dictate whether there is going to be a broader conflict or not.”
After meeting the Jordanian and Egyptian army chiefs, Brown arrived in Israel on Sunday evening, joining IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi for a situation assessment at the Air Force's command room.
On Monday, he met Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant to discuss the “strategic junction” facing Israel at the moment, according to Gallant's office.
“In discussing Iran, Minister Gallant highlighted an all-time high in aggressive activities as well as Iran’s ongoing pursuit of nuclear capabilities. In this regard, Minister Gallant emphasized that Israel and the United States must be prepared at any time to fulfill their joint commitment to prevent Iran from gaining military nuclear weapons,” Gallant’s office said.
After thwarting Hezbollah's attack, the IDF has refocused its attention on Iran, which continues to threaten retaliation following the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, for which it blames Israel.
The defense minister and former general also thanked Gen. Brown for “his firm stance by Israel’s side and his unequivocal commitment to Israel’s security.”
The U.S. had announced earlier that instead of replacing the USS Theodore Roosevelt strike group in the Middle East, the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier strike group would join it, and both would stay in the region to deter the Iranian regime.
Earlier in the day, Brown toured the IDF’s Northern Command with Halevi and was provided with an overview of the fighting on Israel’s northern border and operational plans for the near future.
The commanders also discussed security and strategic issues in the region, especially the Iranian threat. “We are strengthening operational cooperation in the face of challenges and threats in the Middle East,” Halevi said after the meeting.
Brown’s office said he discussed “regional tensions and efforts to deescalate them, the urgency of bringing the Gaza ceasefire and hostage release deal to closure, and the critical importance of continuing to deliver humanitarian assistance into Gaza,” during a meeting with Jordan’s army chief.
Appreciated my engagement with Egyptian Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Ahmad Khalifa in Cairo today. We discussed a number of issues to include on-going tensions in the Middle East, ways to deter the conflict from broadening, & opportunities to improve regional security. pic.twitter.com/KdAworstE0
— General CQ Brown, Jr. (@GenCQBrownJr) August 25, 2024
In Egypt, Brown met with Abdel Fattah el-Sisi and the top army brass. “The engagements included discussions on regional security issues to include ongoing tensions in the Middle East and ways to deter the conflict from broadening,” Brown’s office said.
“In reference to Gaza, Gen. Brown thanked the Egyptian leaders for their roles in the Israeli-Hamas ceasefire and hostage negotiations. Additionally, Gen. Brown reiterated that the delivery of humanitarian assistance into Gaza remains a top priority for the U.S., and the reopening of the Rafah crossing is an important step toward this objective.”
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The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
