US Defense Secretary Visits Israel for Military Talks

US Secretary of Defense Mark Esper visited Israel on Thursday. He held talks to discuss the Jewish state’s regional military advantage after Israel normalized ties with three Arab countries.

On a brief visit a week after the two defense ministers met in Washington, Esper met his Israeli counterpart, Benny Gantz, and senior military officials.

Esper was given a presentation at Ben Gurion airport about Israel's Iron Dome missile defense system, an AFP journalist reported. For about $300 million, the US army is purchasing two Iron Dome batteries.

A source familiar with the meeting, previously said that Gantz and Esper would draw on talks last week in Washington on "making progress in improving Israel's qualitative military edge" in the light of "regional changes."

Following that visit, after the UAE normalized relations with the Jewish state, Israel said it would not oppose US sales of F-35 fighter jets to the Gulf nation.