US military chief arrives in Israel amid tensions with Iran

The top US military official made an unannounced visit to the occupied Palestinian territories on Friday to talk about “regional security challenges” at a time of heightened tensions with Iran and its allies across the Middle East.

Army Gen. Mark Milley, the Joint Chiefs chairman, met with senior Israeli military and intelligence leaders at an airbase in southern of the occupied territories and held a video conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The visit came days after an air raid on the Syrian capital, Damascus, suspected to have been carried out by Israel, killed five foreign fighters, including a member of the Hezbollah.

The Lebanese group has vowed to retaliate for the killing of its fighters in Syria, and in recent days Israel has sent infantry reinforcements to its northern border with Lebanon.

Israeli Defense Minister Benny Gantz said that in his talks with Milley, he emphasized “the need to continue the pressure on Iran and its proxies.”

The Israeli military “is prepared and ready for any scenario and any threat, and I do not suggest our enemies test us. We have no interest in escalation, but we will do all that is necessary to protect Israeli citizens,” Gantz claimed.