Under Secretary of Defense Robert Work . Photo: Wikipedia

Israeli Defense Minister Moshe Ya’alon met on Thursday with US Under Secretary of Defense Robert Work, Israel’s Army Radio reported.

“The US has always stood with Israel and always will,” said Work, from Ya’alon’s Tel Aviv office at the Defense Ministry.

“Israel is a cornerstone in our policy and strategy in the Middle East,” he said, adding that the security of the Jewish state is important for the US government, the American military and for Defense Secretary Ashton Carter, whose last visit to Israel occurred shortly after the announcement of the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers in July.

Ya’alon told Work that Israel, too, considers the US the cornerstone of its security, and expressed gratitude for the relationship between the two countries.

Work also met with Israeli President Reuven Rivlin at his Jerusalem residence, according to Times of Israel.