CENTCOM Commander Completes Middle East Tour Amid Escalating Tensions in Lebanon

Admiral Brad Cooper, commander of US Central Command (CENTCOM), has concluded a 10-day tour of the Middle East, visiting Bahrain, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE. During his trip, he met with military and civilian leaders and visited the USS Abraham Lincoln in the Arabian Sea, which is currently conducting combat flights and supporting a naval blockade against Iran. Concurrently, hostilities have intensified along the Israel-Lebanon border. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported the elimination of two senior Hezbollah commanders: Ali Samir Al-Haj Hassan of the elite Radwan Force and Abu Hassan Alaa of the Badr Unit. The IDF stated these strikes were in response to Hezbollah attacks on Israeli troops in the security zone, accusing Al-Haj Hassan of using his family as human shields. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati condemned the strikes, stating that while the government is responsible for addressing military structures within its territory, their presence does not justify Israeli violations of Lebanese sovereignty or threats to civilians. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed that no attack would go unanswered. Meanwhile, a US State Department spokesperson reiterated to i24NEWS that the pilot zone program remains the only viable path to long-term security, asserting that Hezbollah bears sole responsibility for Israel's presence in Lebanon and must be dismantled.