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Statement

Statement | March 10, 2025

USCENTCOM Commander Completes Senior Leader Engagements in Four Countries During a Visit to the Middle East

USCENTCOM

Commander, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla conducted a series of high-level engagements with key leaders and servicemembers in Israel, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Syria, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, during a visit to the region, March 5-8.

From March 5-6, Gen. Kurilla traveled to Israel and met with multiple senior security and defense officials to discuss the current regional security situation. Gen. Kurilla attended the change of the command ceremony, where Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir assumed the duties as the 24th Chief of Staff of the Israeli Defense Force (IDF), replacing Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi. Gen. Kurilla and Lt. Gen. Zamir also discussed continued efforts to deepen the military partnership between the United States and Israel and increase interoperability between our forces. Gen. Kurilla reiterated the ironclad military-to-military relationship between the U.S. and Israel.

On March 6-7, Gen. Kurilla visited the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Syria. In Jordan he met with Maj. Gen. Yousef Al-Hnaity, Chairman of the Jordan Joint Chiefs of Staff, and other Jordanian leaders. Gen. Kurilla, Maj. Gen. Hnaity, and other leaders discussed the evolving security situation in the region, deepening the bilateral defense relationship between the U.S. and Jordan, and further expanding the military-to-military relationship with the JAF, which continues to serve as a steadfast and reliable strategic partner for peace and stability in the region.

In Syria, Gen. Kurilla met with U.S. military commanders and servicemembers, as well as our Defeat-ISIS partners, the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Gen. Kurilla received an update on the evolving situation in Syria and an assessment of the ongoing Defeat-ISIS campaign and efforts to prevent the resurgence of the terrorist group in the region.

From March 7-8, Gen. Kurilla traveled to Saudi Arabia and met with our Saudi and Yemeni partners, including Gen. Fayyad bin Hamed Al-Ruwayli, Chief of General Staff of the Saudi Arabian Armed Forces, and his key staff. The leaders discussed shared security concerns, the importance of joint readiness and interoperability, and their mutual commitment to addressing evolving regional threats. Gen. Kurilla also met with Lt. Gen. Sagheer Hamoud Ahmed Aziz, the Chief of Staff of the Yemeni Armed Forces, who traveled from Yemen for the meeting. Gen. Kurilla and Lt. Gen. Aziz discussed ongoing efforts to combat Houthis and the United States redesignating the Houthis as a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO), on March 4.

“These face-to-face meetings are imperative to building and maintaining strong, effective relationships with our partners in the region. Seeing the region through their eyes is how we best understand the unique challenges, complexities, and opportunities to safeguard stability and counter malign activities,” said Gen. Kurilla.

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