Tel Aviv, November 17 (RHC)-- The head of U.S. forces in the Middle East is in Israel today for talks with senior Israeli officials. Axios reports General Michael Erik Kurilla, the commander of U.S. Central Command, is meeting Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and top general Herzi Halevi to discuss Israel’s assault on Gaza and fighting along Israel’s border with Lebanon.

On Thursday, Israel’s military shelled villages in southern Lebanon and launched drone strikes after Hezbollah fighters fired anti-tank missiles across the border.  It was some of the heaviest cross-border violence since fighting erupted in October.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes hit several targets around Damascus early on Friday. This follows a series of Israeli strikes across Syria, including attacks that took Damascus and Aleppo airports out of service last month, killing two civilian workers.