Israel Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel and U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein in Tel Aviv on Wednesday. Photo: IDF Spokesperson’s Unit.

JNS.org – US Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein concluded his first official visit to Israel Wednesday.

Goldfein arrived in Israel on Monday at the invitation of Israel Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel.

During his visit, Goldfein toured IAF bases, met with air force officers and soldiers, and participated in a simulation flight.

The IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said that during their meetings, Eshel and Goldfein discussed the challenges the IAF faces, given the geopolitical and strategic changes in the Middle East, and the close collaboration between the Israeli and American air forces.

Juniper Cobra 16, a massive, joint Israeli-American air defense exercise with the IAF and USAF, took place in Israel in February.

The exercise was the latest in the series of biennial, five-day combined air-defense drills that have been held by the American and Israeli air forces since 2001.