WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Defence Secretary Leon Panetta and his Israeli counterpart Ehud Barak met Wednesday for a meeting that underscored a “strong US commitment to Israel’s security,” the Pentagon said. US Defence Department spokesman George Little said in a statement that the two men “discussed a range of issues, and expressed their commitment to ensuring continued cooperation on many important regional issues - particularly Syria, Iran, and Gaza.” “The secretary commended Minister Barak on his tireless efforts in advancing the US-Israel strategic relationship,” Little said, adding the pair “reiterated the strong US commitment to Israel’s security and the strong US-Israel defence relationship.” The meeting was the 11th for Barak and Panetta, who is leaving his post shortly.