Six Months In, U.S. and Israel Compare Notes on the Iran War

America's top Air Force officer flew to Tel Aviv to debrief with Israeli commanders as the conflict crosses a grim milestone.

By The Defense Desk

U.S. Gen. Eyal Zamir and Israeli Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Omar Tishler on Aug. [1]

The war began on Feb. 28 and has involved dual airstrikes from both U.S. and Israeli forces, with American assets including the B-1B Lancer, B-52 Stratofortress, F-15E Strike Eagle, KC-135 Stratotanker, F-35A Lightning II, and A-10 Thunderbolt II flying long-range bomber strikes and aerial refueling missions. [1]

[1] Wilsbach's recent visit to Israel is the first publicly announced meeting, even though the chief of staff 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. [1]

The U.S. footprint in the region has extended well beyond the Middle East. [2] The planes left Bulgaria on Friday, according to Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov. [2]

Since the war began, 18 U.S. service members have died, though the Pentagon altered the way it classifies casualties suffered, moving four to another casualty summary and thus lowering its official count to 14. [1]

The meeting points to a deepening institutional entanglement — doctrinal, logistical, and now diplomatic — that will outlast any single military campaign.

Six months of joint operations have generated lessons both sides are now formalizing. How those lessons get applied — and where — is the next question neither government is answering in public. [1]

shared priorities for regional securityKen Wilsbach