Top US commander visits aircraft carrier as Gaza ceasefire talks continue in Cairo

Admiral Brad Cooper, head of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), visited the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea at the end of a regional tour. The carrier, deployed since January, has spent over 240 consecutive days at sea, supporting U.S. military operations against Iran, including the blockade of Iranian ports. Cooper described the deployment as one of the most operationally intense and consequential of the modern era. He also met with civilian and military leaders in Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.

Meanwhile, a Hamas delegation led by Khalil al-Hayya is in Cairo for ceasefire-related talks. Reports indicate al-Hayya met with Maj. Gen. Hassan Rashad, head of Egypt’s intelligence service. Hamas reiterated its commitment to implementing Donald Trump’s peace plan to end the suffering in Gaza and begin reconstruction. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected withdrawing from the roughly 60% of the territory Israel controls until Hamas is completely disarmed.

On the Lebanon front, the Israeli military stated it targeted two Hezbollah commanders in strikes on Saturday. The Lebanese Health Ministry reported at least 11 people were killed. These strikes occurred despite a truce between Israel and Hezbollah that has been in effect since June.

Additionally, Iran has alleged that Qatar is holding three Iranian pilots who went missing in March after their jets were downed, a claim Qatar has denied. In Gaza, an Israeli strike in Khan Younis wounded five people, including a child. The Israeli military stated it struck a member of the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.