In an effort to further Washington’s objective of a so-called “humanitarian pause” from the ongoing civilian bloodshed in Gaza, CIA Director William Burns traveled to Israel on Sunday for discussions with Tel Aviv’s top authorities.
Unnamed Israeli insiders told Axios that the US spy chief was scheduled to meet with senior defense and intelligence officials, including Mossad chief David Barnea, Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The visit takes place at a time when the US is attempting to pressure Israel to hit Hamas with greater precision, provide battle pauses so humanitarian relief can reach Gaza, and take more steps to prevent civilian fatalities.
Additionally, the US wants to increase the amount of data it shares with Israel, offering details about possible hostage situations or potential Hamas retaliation. According to a U.S. official, Burns intended to reaffirm “our commitment to intelligence cooperation, especially in areas such as counterterrorism and security.”
The CIA chief’s arrival in the Middle East comes only hours after Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s hectic Middle East tour, which brought Biden’s top diplomat to Tel Aviv, Amman, Ramallah, Baghdad and Ankara. Burns himself is also anticipated to travel to Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, a vital nation in the area in an effort to bring humanitarian supplies into Gaza, and Qatar, which has been assisting in efforts to free Hamas captives.
Burns arrived in Israel at the same time as the US Central Command (CENTCOM) declared an Ohio-class submarine was “entering its area of responsibility,” which encompasses the Gulf of Oman, the Eastern Mediterranean, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf.
The US Navy possesses four Ohio-class guided missile submarines (SSGN) that are modified from ballistic missile subs to shoot Tomahawk cruise missiles instead of nuclear-tipped ballistic missiles, however CENTCOM did not reveal the identity of the submarine that was deployed on Sunday.
The most recent nuclear-capable submarine to arrive in West Asia has joined a fleet of nine other warships that are escorting Israel into the Eastern Mediterranean, including two carrier strike groups.
CNN claims that each Tomahawk is capable of carrying a 1,000-pound high-explosive bomb. The USS Florida, an Ohio-class submarine, was sent by the Pentagon to the Persian Gulf earlier this year in an attempt to prevent Iranian seizures of commercial vessels engaged in gasoline smuggling.
