JERUSALEM, June 27 (UPI) -- U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Mike Mullen made an unannounced trip to Israel Sunday for a private meeting with Israeli military leaders.
The admiral's unscheduled stop following a trip to Afghanistan was described as a "brief professional visit" by the Israel military, the Jerusalem Telegraph Agency reported. Israeli Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi was among those Mullen conferred with about U.S-Israel cooperation and mutual security issues, JTA said.
The Jerusalem Post reported Mullen was greeted by Defense Minister Ehud Barak upon arrival.
"We are happy to welcome chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mullen to Israel for a brief work visit," Barak said.
"We very much value his contribution to the security and stability of the region and his contribution to the close working relationship between the (Israeli Defense Forces) and the defense establishment and U.S. armed forces and the Pentagon. We are pleased to see him here as one who contributes much to the security of the entire region and to the security of the state of Israel."
Mullen said security issues facing Israel also affect the United States.
"I always try to see the threats and the challenges from an Israeli perspective," he said.
It was Mullen's fourth trip to Israel, the last coming about two months ago.
