THE highest-ranking military officers of the United States and Israel held a closed-door meeting at the Pentagon earlier this week, against the backdrop of escalating tensions with Iran, according to two US officials familiar with the matter.
Reuters reported on Monday that the officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, disclosed that US General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, met with Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir.
No further details were provided regarding the content of the discussions, and the meeting had not been previously reported.
The encounter comes as regional tensions intensify, with Washington increasing its military presence in surrounding waters and reinforcing air defence systems across West Asia.
In a related development, Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz was reported to have met Zamir on Tuesday following his return from Washington.
According to Katz’s office, the discussion focused on assessing the security situation in the West Asia region and evaluating the operational readiness of Israel’s armed forces to respond to any potential scenario.
The United States has recently taken steps to bolster its military posture in the region after President Donald Trump repeatedly issued warnings to Iran, seeking to pressure Tehran back to the negotiating table.
On Sunday, Iranian leaders responded warning that any US military strike could trigger a broader regional conflict, further heightening concerns of escalation across West Asia. - February 2, 2026
