Israeli army chief in Bahrain for first official visit

Kohavi, joined by IDF officer charged with Iran file, meets top Bahrani defense officials, will visit US 5th fleet stationed nearby

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Aviv Kohavi traveled to Bahrain on Wednesday for a first official trip to the Gulf state. Kohavi traveled alongside Tal Kelman, the military official in charge of the Iran file, as well as other senior commanders, the IDF said in a statement.

Kohavi was greeted by the chief of the Bahraini Defense Force, Theyab bin Saqr al-Nuaimi, the IDF said. He was expected to also sit down with Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Defense Council, and other Bahraini senior military and state officials.

Despite it being an official visit, Kohavi was not seen wearing a military uniform in an image published by the state-run Bahrain News Agency.

Also during his visit to the Gulf, Kohavi is slated to meet with Brad Cooper, commander of the United States Naval Forces Central Command, US 5th Fleet and Combined Maritime Forces at the fleet’s headquarters, which is stationed in the area.

“This visit is in addition to other recent meetings as part of the ongoing cooperation between the IDF and the US Armed Forces, which included the visit of the outgoing Commander of the United States Central Command, General Kenneth McKenzie to Israel,” the IDF statement read.

Joining Kohavi and Kelman are Effie Defrin, the military’s international cooperation commander, and Amit Sa’ar, who leads Military Intelligence’s Research Division.

Deputy Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi is to command the military during Kohavi’s absence.

The first-ever official visit by the IDF chief comes nearly two years after normalization agreements — known as the Abraham Accords — were signed between the two countries. Last month, Prime Minister Naftali Bennett and Defense Minister Benny Gantz also visited the Gulf state for their first official trips.

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