Israel says Middle East air defense partnership already in action
Israel's defense minister said he hopes US President Joe Biden's trip to the region will further the joint defense cooperation.
Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz confirmed on Monday that US-sponsored air defense cooperation between Israel and Arab states has already begun.
Gantz told Knesset lawmakers today that the partnership, which he dubbed “Middle East Air Defense,” is “already operative and has already enabled the successful interception of Iranian attempts to attack Israel and other countries” in the region.
Why it Matters: US Central Command has sought to help Arab Gulf states to close gaps in their air defense arrays in recent years as Iran has developed and launched drones as well as cruise and ballistic missiles against US allies in the region.
Under the Abraham Accords, a handful of Arab states normalized ties with Israel starting in 2020, and the US military has included Israel in CENTCOM’s region of responsibility.
