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ConflictUS Air Force Chief of Staff Ken Wilsbach visits Israel, discusses Iran war regional situation with IDF leaders
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U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Ken Wilsbach visited Israel and met with Israel Defense Forces Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Omar Tishler on August 23, 2026. The meeting, announced by the IDF and confirmed by Wilsbach on social media, focused on the 'regional situation' of the ongoing Iran war, which had just passed its six-month mark. The discussions covered shared priorities for regional security, opportunities to deepen cooperation, and lessons learned from the joint U.S.-Israeli military campaign. The war, which began on February 28, 2026, has involved dual airstrikes from both U.S. and Israeli forces, with the U.S. Air Force conducting long-range bomber strikes and aerial refueling missions using aircraft such as B-1B Lancers, B-52 Stratofortresses, F-15E Strike Eagles, KC-135 Stratotankers, F-35A Lightning IIs, and A-10 Thunderbolt IIs. Since the war began, 18 U.S. service members have died, though the Pentagon later reclassified some casualties, lowering the official count to 14. This was Wilsbach's first publicly announced visit to Israel during the conflict.
Source report
U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff General Ken Wilsbach met with senior Israeli military officials last week to discuss what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) described as the “regional situation” of the Iran war, just before the conflict passed its six-month mark.
Meeting Details
On August 23, Wilsbach met with IDF Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir and Commander of the Israeli Air Force Major General Omar Tishler, the IDF announced in a social media post on Wednesday. A photo of Wilsbach and Zamir shaking hands accompanied the announcement.
Wilsbach confirmed the meeting on his own social media, stating that the three discussed “shared priorities for regional security” and “opportunities to deepen cooperation.”
The IDF said the groups advanced “learning from the joint campaign” as the Iran war surpassed six months.
Background on the Conflict
The war, which began on February 28, has involved coordinated airstrikes from both U.S. and Israeli forces. The U.S. Air Force has conducted a range of missions, including:
- Long-range bomber strikes
- Aerial refueling operations
U.S. aircraft used in the attacks include:
- B-1B Lancer
- B-52 Stratofortress
- F-15E Strike Eagle
- KC-135 Stratotanker
- F-35A Lightning II
- A-10 Thunderbolt II
Previous Visits
Wilsbach’s recent visit to Israel is the first publicly announced meeting of its kind, although he previously visited seven U.S. bases across the Middle East and Europe within U.S. Central Command and U.S. European Command’s area of responsibility in December 2025.
Casualties
Since the war began, 18 U.S. service members have died. The Pentagon has since altered the way it classifies casualties, moving four to another casualty summary, lowering the number to 14.
About the Author
Cristina Stassis is a reporter covering the defense industry, national security, and military and veteran affairs. She previously worked as an editorial fellow for Defense News in 2024.
Source
Military TimesWestern
Part of this Story
US Air Force Chief Wilsbach meets Israeli leaders as Iran war passes six-month mark