IDF chief Ashkenazi
Photo: Yaron Brener
Michael Mullen
Photo: AP
IDF chief meets French, American counterparts
Askenazi meets Mullen in Normandy to discuss joint military exercise, then flies to Paris for talks with Georgelin on Iran, Lebanon
IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi flew to France on Sunday for meetings with Chairman of the United States Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Michael Mullen and French Chief of the Defense Staff Gen. Jean-Louis Georgelin.
The IDF Spokesperson's Office reported that the "routine" meeting with Mullen, which was held in Normandy, focused on security assessments regarding Iran, Syria and Hezbollah.
The two also discussed the joint Israeli-US Juniper Cobra missile defense exercise, which is scheduled to begin later this month. The drill will include the Israeli Arrow missile defense system as well as three American systems - the THAAD, Aegis and PAC3 - that will all be deployed in Israel for the duration of the exercise.
In the evening Ashkenazi flew to Paris for his meeting with Georgelin. The two generals discussed Israeli-French cooperation, and particularly the situation in Lebanon.
Ashkenazi and Georgelin also discussed developments in Iran. Last month Georgelin told an audience in Washington that military intervention was no longer a viable option to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear capability. He said a military strike was too risky.
