#Top US general make surprise visit to Israel

The top U.S. general in the Middle East visited Israel early Tuesday in an unannounced trip as it intensifies its fight with Palestinian militant group Hamas. 

U.S. Central Command head Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla arrived in Tel Aviv “to conduct high level meetings with Israel’s military leadership” including Israeli Chief of Defense Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, according to a Pentagon statement. 

The visit to Israel is the latest by a senior U.S. official ahead of an expected Israeli ground assault in Gaza. President Biden also plans to visit Israel on Wednesday and Secretary of State Antony Blinken is already there to hold talks with Israel’s war cabinet. 

Kurilla’s trip was meant to “gain a clear understanding of Israel’s defense requirements, outline U.S. support efforts to avoid expansion of the conflict, and reiterate the Department of Defense’s ironclad support for Israel,” according to the Pentagon.   

“I’m here to ensure that Israel has what it needs to defend itself, and am particularly focused on avoiding other parties expanding the conflict,” Kurilla said in the statement. 

Reuters was the first to report on his visit.  

The U.S. military has amped up its assets in the region since Hamas attacked Israel on Oct. 7, when Palestinian gunmen stormed Israeli towns in a coordinated attack that killed some 1,300 people. 

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has reportedly ordered 2,000 U.S. troops to prepare to deploy in support of Israel in an advising and medical role.  

Ahead of that, the Pentagon sent two carrier strike groups to the Eastern Mediterranean to act as a deterrent amid concerns foreign aggressors could engage in the war. 

In addition, Washington has sent munitions and interceptors for Israel’s Iron Dome defense system and moved U.S. fighter jets to the region.   

Israel, meanwhile, has conducted an intense airstrike and artillery campaign against Iran-backed Hamas – which controls the Gaza Strip. The Israeli strikes have killed roughly 2,800 of Palestinian civilians in the effort, a major chunk of whom have been children. 

It has also put Gaza and its 2.3 million Palestinian residents under a total blockade.