Commander of the U.S. European Command, General Curtis M. Scaparrotti is in Israel this week for talks with his military counterparts, in his second visit to the Jewish State as EUCOMM commander.
Scaparrotti toured the Arrow Missile Defense System headquarters at the Palmachim military base on Tuesday, accompanied by IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gadi Eizenkot and Air Defense Commander Brig.-Gen. Tzvika Haimovitch.
The U.S. commander also observed an IDF field exercise and was briefed by Brig.-Gen. Ori Gordin and Maj.-Gen. (res.) Tal Russo, then traveled south to the border with Gaza to visit a captured Hamas tunnel together with Gaza Division Commander Brig.-Gen. Yehuda Fox.
During his meeting with Lt.-Gen. Eizenkot at the IDF headquarters in Tel Aviv, Gen. Scaparrotti underscored the strong and enduring military partnership between Israel and the United States, and said it was built on trust developed over decades of close cooperation. Scaparrotti emphasized the U.S. commitment to maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge in the region and defensive capacities.
On Monday, the U.S. commander met with President Reuven Rivlin at his residence in Jerusalem and reaffirmed the unwavering U.S. commitment to Israel’s security. While in Jerusalem, Gen. Scaparrotti received a guided tour of Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum and laid a wreath at the Hall of Remembrance in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.