U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth held an unannounced meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Israel on Monday, according to a source familiar with the matter. The visit occurred amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran.
Details regarding the discussions between Hegseth and Netanyahu were not disclosed. The Pentagon has declined to comment, and the Israeli Prime Minister's office has not yet responded to requests for comment. Axios was the first to report on the meeting.
Hegseth indicated via a social media post that his trip involved visiting U.S. service members within the Central Command's area of responsibility, which encompasses the Middle East, parts of Northeast Africa, and Asia. Israel's Army Radio reported that the meeting with Netanyahu took place at an air force base in Israel's southern desert.
The visit comes at a critical juncture for regional stability. Tensions are heightened between the U.S. and Iran, particularly concerning the Strait of Hormuz, while Yemen's Houthi rebels, aligned with Iran, have intensified attacks on Saudi Arabia. This meeting also followed President Donald Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu for the upcoming Israeli parliamentary election, the nation's first since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
Recent military activities have included joint U.S. and Israeli strikes against Iran in late February, which reportedly initiated a broader conflict in the Middle East. Prime Minister Netanyahu has recently stated his intention not to initiate an attack on Iran prior to the Israeli election scheduled for October 27. Similarly, President Trump has indicated that the U.S. will not launch an offensive against Iran before the U.S. midterm elections in November.
