Heightened alert

IDF chief cancels US trip amid alert

Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir was due to meet with the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and CENTCOM commander; decision came before PM Netanyahu's warning of pre-election attack

Gila Isaacson

SEP 30, 2026 10:45

1 min read

IDF Chief of Staff Cancels Urgent US Trip as Israel Raises Alert Level

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir has cancelled his official visit to the United States, scheduled for a week and a half from now, Walla reported Wednesday.

The cancellation comes against the backdrop of heightened IDF readiness across all sectors. A senior security official said "you cannot put the army on alert and fly abroad."

Zamir was scheduled to meet with the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff and the commander of Central Command (CENTCOM) for strategic discussions on Iran and other regional threats. The decision to cancel the trip was made before Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu's announcement regarding an "attack ahead of the elections."

The Chief of Staff determined that given the elevated alert status across all IDF sectors, it would not be appropriate to manage events from a distance. The cancellation reflects the current level of security tension and the need for senior commanders to remain in the country.

The decision comes amid ongoing tensions with Iran and other regional threats. As Kikar Hashabbat reported, Defense Minister Israel Katz recently warned that "an Iranian attack on Israel will free Israel from any existing constraint in striking Iran."

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