US secretary of defense arrives in Israel for talks

JERUSALEM (AA) - U.S. Defense Secretary General James Mattis arrived in Israel on Thursday for a two-day visit.

In his first official visit to the self-proclaimed Jewish state, Mattis will meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Israel Army Chief-of-Staff Gadi Eizenkot.

According to local media reports, the two men plan to discuss U.S.-Israel relations and regional security issues.

Mattis’ visit to Israel comes as part of a regional tour that brought him to Egypt and Saudi Arabia earlier this week.