Mullen met his Israeli counterpart Lieutenant General Gabi Ashkenazi and Defence Minister Ehud Barak in Tel Aviv, the defence ministry said.

Iran was on the agenda of their talks, army radio said.

'The meeting touched upon a series of regional security issues,' the defence ministry said in a statement.

'Admiral Mullen called Israel a very important ally of the United States during his meeting with General Ashkenazi and promised in particular to work to strengthen the Israeli army,' an Israeli military official said.

Agencies

Güncelleme Tarihi: 11 Aralık 2007, 12:24