RIYADH — An official source at the Ministry of Defense dismissed reports circulated by the Israeli media outlets alleging that a meeting had taken place between the Saudi Chief of the General Staff Gen. Fayyad Al-Ruwaili and his Israeli counterpart Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot.

In a statement, carried by the Saudi Press Agency, the ministry source said that both the military officials had attended an international meeting of defense chiefs of staff, held at Andrews Air Force Base in Washington on Oct. 15-16 to discuss ways to confront violent extremist groups.

A formal dinner was served for all participants, in honor of the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff on the sidelines of the meeting, which saw the participation of 81 countries.

“The report is baseless and unfounded,” the statement said while reaffirming that no such bilateral meeting has ever taken place, either during that meeting or elsewhere. — SG/SPA