US Central Command (CENTCOM) Deputy Commander Admiral Brad Cooper and Deputy IDF Chief of Staff Maj.-Gen. Amir Baram met in Israel on Tuesday to discuss future moves versus the Yemen Houthis.
A statement said that they visited several air force bases, including the Nevatim base in the South where the Jerusalem Post watched a joint drill of Israeli F-35s and American F-15s in 2023, and discussed countering threats from Yemen and other terror organizations in the Middle East.
As recently as Sunday, the Houthis fired yet another ballistic missile at Israel and they have increased the frequency of firing ballistic missiles at Israel for several weeks without any significant breaks.
Many of these attacks have forced millions of Israelis in the Tel Aviv and central Israel regions into bomb shelters and safe rooms, even as none have been killed by Houthi weapons since July 2024.
However, NIS 11 million in damage was caused to a school in the Tel Aviv area, and other damage has been caused by pieces of shrapnel falling into Israel after air defense systems shot down the Houthi ballistic missiles.
The Houthi attacks have continued even after Israel has launched four separate large-scale strikes on areas under their control in Yemen, including striking all of their main maritime ports multiple times and their international airport on December 25.
Even a December 31 US CENTCOM strike on a key Houthi installation has not stopped the missiles being launched at Israel.
To date, the Houthis have launched over 200 ballistic missiles and close to 200 drones at Israel.
Israeli leaders have said they will target Houthi leaders. Still, it is possible that Israel and the US must work together to improve their intelligence regarding targeting the Houthis in a way that will end the missile attacks on the Jewish state.
Additionally, the deputy chiefs attended a strategic briefing led by the Air Force Chief of Staff Brig.-Gen. Omer Tishler, the Nevatim base commander, and other senior officers.
The two also visited Division 80 and the Northern Command, where they were briefed on operational activities, and "enemy tactics."
"The IDF will continue to strengthen its ties with the US military, demonstrating a commitment to enhancing regional stability and coordination between the armies," the IDF said in its statement.
Meanwhile, over Monday night and Tuesday, the IDF announced the deaths of three personnel, two officers and one soldier.
St.-Sgt. Ido Samiach was killed in battle while fighting in the Gaza Strip, the IDF announced on Tuesday.
Sgt. Samiach, 20, from Ganei Tikva, served in the Reconnaissance Battalion of the Nahal Brigade.
He fell in northern Gaza.
During an operation in Beit Hanoun, terrorists opened fire, and Samiach was killed. The IDF is still investigating the full circumstances of the incident.
"Ido, the beloved son of Ofra and Uri, the devoted brother to Itai, Adi, and Omer, was the pride of his family and our community," the Ganei Tikva municipality said in a statement posted to Facebook. "He fought bravely for the security of the State of Israel, and in his death, he left a void in the hearts of all who knew him."
His funeral will take place on Wednesday at noon at the Savyon Cemetery, according to the Sayeret Nahal Association.
Before the funeral, a flag march will take place in the city, accompanying the family "on their final journey," the municipality stated.
"A great mourning has fallen over Ganei Tikva," the statement said.
The details of the march will be shared Tuesday evening. It is set to begin at Samiach's family home and end at the cemetery.
Maj. Dvir Zion Revah and Capt. Eitan Israel Shiknazi were killed in battle while fighting in the Gaza Strip, the IDF announced on Monday night and Tuesday.
Maj. Revah, 28, from Jerusalem, served in the 932nd Battalion in the Nahal Brigade.
He fell in combat in Beit Hanun in northern Gaza. Revah was the second officer to be killed in an incident on Monday when the anti-tank rocket was fired at a building that had IDF soldiers inside of it.
In the same incident where Maj. Revah fell, Captain Eitan Shiknazi was also killed.
Shiknazi, 24, from Eli, served in the 932nd Battalion in the Nahal Brigade.
He grew up in the West Bank community of Eli, in the Binyamin regional council.
Tributes pour in for fallen IDF soldiers
The Hatzor HaGlilit Local Council paid tribute to him, "Eitan grew up and was educated in Hatzor, and his family still lives in Hatzor. May we never know any more sorrow!"
The Binyamin Regional Council paid tribute, saying Shiknazi was "a graduate of the 'Bnei David' preparatory school in the settlement and is the tenth person to fall in the war from the settlement of Eli in Binyamin. Professional teams from the Binyamin Council and the settlement of Ali are accompanying the family at this time."
Binyamin Regional Council Israel Gantz eulogized: "Eitan, deputy company commander from the Egoz Unit, fought bravely and led his soldiers in the Nahal Brigade on the path to destroying the enemy until he fell in battle. He grew up and was educated on dedication and love for the people and the land, and so he lived and fell. In this difficult hour, we embrace his dear wife, Hallel, his parents, and his entire family. The entire people of Israel are with you. Benjamin sends strength to the Eli community that is standing on the front lines of the war."
Separately, the IDF said that during its nearly three months of combat in northern Gaza, the Kfir Brigade, under the command of Division 162, destroyed tunnels, located weapons, and eliminated numerous terrorists, including some who partook in the October 7 massacre. The IDF made the announcement on Tuesday as the brigade concluded its operations in the area.
The terrorists eliminated by the brigade were killed both in close-quarters combat encounters and in strikes conducted in coordination with the Israeli air force.
The soldiers mainly operated in Beit Lahieh and Beit Hanoun.
According to the brigade, they destroyed Hamas's Beit Lahieh Battalion.
"We operated for sixty four days in northern Gaza. Sixty four days of operating without breaks or rotations. We worked to destroy Hamas above and below ground," Kfir Brigade sources said. "We eliminated over 300 terrorists, including senior operatives who caused a lot of trouble. We paid a very heavy price in the fighting. In six incidents, we lost 12 soldiers and commanders. We had dozens of wounded, some of whom have already returned to combat."
In late December, the Kfir Brigade destroyed three tunnel routes in Beit Lahieh that, when combined, ran a length of 7.5 kilometers.
Within these tunnels, soldiers found military equipment that Hamas terrorists captured on October 7, 2023. They also discovered maps of Israeli communities bordering Gaza.
In November alone, the brigade neutralized dozens of terrorists and dismantled over one hundred Hamas structures.
Despite these successes, IDF sources could not deflect questions about Hamas reconstituting its forces and a recent increase in rocket fire from Gaza into Israel.
On Monday, a rocket even struck Sderot, marking an end to an extended period in which there were either no Gaza rockets or they failed to strike anything besides open fields.
IDF sources had no clear plan to end these two problems, noting that the government handles broader policy issues.