(January 26, 2024 / JNS) The Israeli Defense Ministry announced on Thursday that Maj. Gen. (res.) Eyal Zamir, its director general, concluded a trip to Washington, during which he and his team met with counterparts at the U.S. Departments of Defense and State, and with defense companies Lockheed Martin and Boeing, to discuss securing weapons.

“The visit underscored the close cooperation between Israel and the United States since the beginning of the ongoing ‘Swords of Iron,’ war,” the ministry said.

Zamir’s meetings aligned “with preparations for evolving combat scenarios” and “focused on plans for force build-up in the upcoming multi-year strategy, including the acquisition of advanced platforms and capabilities to maintain the IDF’s qualitative military edge and readiness for diverse scenarios,” the Israeli ministry added.

“This approach integrates lessons learned from the war into strategies for obtaining military equipment,” it said.

Those discussions included an Israeli request to fast-track delivery of Apache combat helicopters to help relieve the heavy demand on the air force’s two Apache squadrons, which have operated continuously over Gaza, Ynet reported on Friday.

In meetings at the Pentagon, Israel reportedly asked the United States to earmark Apaches, which Boeing produces for the U.S. military, and divert them urgently to Israel. Israel and the United States also are said to have discussed Israel’s planned acquisition of a third F-35 fighter jet squadron from Lockheed Martin and a squadron of F-15EX jets from Boeing.

Zamir “addressed the current combat situation in Gaza and the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah in the north,” per the Israeli Defense Ministry. “Additionally, discussions focused on countering Iranian aggression seeking to harm Israel and destabilize the Middle East.”

Zamir also thanked the United States, on behalf of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and the Israeli defense establishment, “for its unprecedented commitment to the State of Israel and for supporting its defense needs,” per the ministry. Washington did not publish readouts of the meetings.

Photo: Flash90