First permanent American military base appears in Israel
The first permanent US military base in Israel began operating on Monday, reported the press service of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
"Today, the IDF announced a key development in Israel-US relations: a permanent US Military facility on Israeli soil, located within an Israeli Air Force (IAF) base in southern Israel," the report said.
"We’ve established, for the first time in the State of Israel, the IDF, a permanent US Military facility, flying the American flag," said General Zvika Haimovich, commander of the IAF’s Aerial Defense Division, whose statements were cited by the army’s press service. According to the military, dozens of American soldiers will be stationed on the base, which is located on the territory of the IAF’s School of Aerial Defense.
"Two years in the making, the facility will provide a space for the IAF and American task force to improve detection, interception, and deployment in aerial defense, while strengthening cooperation," the Israeli military noted. The army press service added that "the American facility is a US Military zone that will operate under IDF guidelines and regulations."