The commander of the United States Fifth Fleet has concluded a visit to Israel for talks with the Israeli Navy on maritime security and naval cooperation, as tensions with Iran continue to dominate the region.

Vice Admiral Curt A. Renshaw, who also commands US Naval Forces Central Command and the Combined Maritime Forces, ended his visit on Friday as the guest of Israeli Navy Commander Vice Admiral Eyal Harel, according to an Israeli defence report of the trip. He met Harel and the Israeli Navy's senior command during the visit.

The two commanders discussed Israeli Navy operations across the various arenas, strengthening their partnership to maintain regional stability and the security of maritime routes, coordination between the two fleets and the sharing of technological knowledge, the report said.

Naval cooperation in a tense Gulf

The visit comes at a sensitive moment for shipping and naval operations in the Gulf. United States naval forces have been enforcing a blockade of Iranian ports, and commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has faced repeated disruption in recent weeks. The Fifth Fleet's area of operations covers the Arabian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, the Red Sea and parts of the Indian Ocean, including the Strait of Hormuz, Bab al-Mandeb and the Suez Canal.

Renshaw took command of US Naval Forces Central Command and the Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain, in October 2025. The fleet's headquarters in Bahrain was struck by Iranian missiles and drones on 28 February, the first day of the war between the United States, Israel and Iran, and its staff has since been reduced to a minimum, with operations continuing from elsewhere in the region.

The Israeli Navy has been working closely with the Fifth Fleet throughout the conflict, and the talks in Israel focused on how the two navies coordinate patrols, share information and protect shipping lanes that carry a large share of the world's oil.

Security consultations in Israel

The naval visit coincided with a round of security consultations in Israel about Iran. Defence Minister Israel Katz held an assessment on Friday with the chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, and other senior military and security officials, according to Israel RealTime.

Katz said afterwards that he, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the chief of staff saw eye to eye on the Iranian issue in all its aspects, and that they would continue to work together to ensure the security of Israel and protect its citizens.

Netanyahu also gave a security and diplomatic briefing to Yashar party leader Gadi Eisenkot at the prime minister's office during the coalition negotiations. Eisenkot has warned against deploying security forces without an immediate threat, amid reports that the caretaker prime minister had been seeking military action against Iran despite objections from security chiefs.

What happens next

Neither the United States nor Israel has announced any new joint naval operation following the visit. The talks appear designed to keep the two navies aligned while diplomatic efforts to end the confrontation with Iran remain deadlocked and the American blockade of Iranian ports stays in place.

The Fifth Fleet said nothing publicly about the visit beyond the Israeli account, and there was no immediate comment from US Central Command. Breaking The News also reported the conclusion of the visit on Friday.