The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Admiral Mike Mullen, arrived on 27 June 2010 in Tel Aviv. He was welcomed by his Israeli counterpart, General Gabi Ashkenazi (photo), and is expected to meet with Defence Minister Ehud Barack.

The purpose of these meetings has not been made public.

The United States and Israel have jointly deployed several warships to the Indian Ocean, off the Iranian and Pakistani shores.

The Israeli defence system is in disarray following the diplomatic brush with Turkey after 9 Turkish nationals were killed during the Israeli pirate attack against the humanitarian fleet in the Mediterranean.

Israel has notified the UN Secretary-General that it would be prepared to use force to prevent the presence in Palestinian territorial waters of the humanitarian vessel that has been chartered by Lebanese women. The Middle East Quartet, which includes the United States, has called on Tel Aviv to exert moderation. A group of women members of the Iranian Parliament have requested to join the convoy.