Kochavi, Milley discuss drill to simulate attack on Iran: Reports

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
23 Nov 2022 09:41

The IOF chief and US Joint Chief of Staff are considering holding a joint drill to prepare their forces for a possible confrontation between "Israel" and Iran.

Aviv Kochavi, Chief of General Staff of the Israel occupation forces, and US Joint Chief of Staff Mark Milley

Aviv Kochavi, Chief of General Staff of the Israel occupation forces, discussed a possible joint drill with the United States to simulate an attack on Iran and its allies during meetings in Washington this week, Fox News Digital reported on Tuesday.

Kochavi and US Joint Chief of Staff Mark Milley are considering holding a joint drill in the coming weeks to prepare their forces for a possible confrontation between the Israeli occupation and Iran or their allies, the Fox News report said.

According to the report, Kochavi met with a number of Pentagon and administration officials on Monday, including Milley and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, to discuss security threats in the Middle East.

"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," Kochavi said in a statement.

Joint Staff Spokesperson Dave Butler said on Monday that Kochavi and Milley discussed opportunities for greater bilateral cooperation and coordination against a "range of threats posed by Iran," as well as other items of mutual strategic interest.

Butler claimed that the US and the Israeli occupation maintain "strong military-to-military" ties as key partners committed to "peace and security" in the Middle East.

Israeli media reported on Tuesday that Kochavi met with a number of US officials and the two sides discussed the security situation in the occupied West Bank and their desire to "maintain stability and prevent the security situation from deteriorating," before the IOF chief held a meeting with CIA Director-General William Burns.

This comes as Iran announced on Tuesday that it initiated enriching uranium at the Fordow nuclear power plant at a 60% purity level, in response to the recent International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) anti-Iran resolution that was drafted and pushed by the US and EU.