Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday during an unannounced visit to Israel, eight days before Israel's national election and amid discussions between Washington and Jerusalem about potentially resuming major combat operations against Iran.1,2,3,4
Axios reported, citing two sources, that the meeting took place at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel, where U.S. refueling planes and fighter jets are deployed. A spokesperson for Netanyahu, Doron Spielman, later confirmed to Reuters that the two men had met at the Uvda air force base in Israel's southern Negev desert region the day before. A senior U.S. military official told CBS News, speaking on condition of anonymity, that Hegseth had visited Israel and met with Netanyahu.1,3,4
Axios also reported, citing a source with knowledge of the trip, that Hegseth met with U.S. troops at the base. Hegseth later posted an image of himself visiting U.S. Central Command troops on X. “As always, it was an honor to visit our warfighters in @CENTCOM today,” he wrote. “The best of our country, on a historic mission. Godspeed.” CENTCOM oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, parts of Central Asia, South Asia and Egypt.1,2
Spielman said the two leaders discussed “the threats in the region” and the partnership between the United States and Israel in dealing with those threats both offensively and defensively. He said Hegseth also thanked Israel for hosting U.S. forces, whose numbers he put in the thousands, and discussed President Donald Trump's support for the prime minister. “There's a deep personal relationship here that was at the core of this discussion,” Spielman said.3
In a statement released by his office on Tuesday, Netanyahu said he had spoken with Trump on Sunday. “We are committed to completing the elimination of the Iranian regime,” Netanyahu said. “I have discussed this with Trump many times, including the day before yesterday.” Al Jazeera noted that Netanyahu is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes in Gaza.3
The visit came shortly after Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu in the Israeli election. On Sunday, Trump praised the prime minister as an ally in the war that the United States and Israel launched against Iran in late February, and wrote on social media that Netanyahu had his “Complete and Total Endorsement.” Al Jazeera's Nour Odeh, reporting from Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, said the administration is backing Netanyahu “as Israel's protector and as a leader who can work with the US on various issues such as regime change in Iran.”3,1
Israel's vote is scheduled for October 27, according to Al Jazeera. Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition is projected to lose its governing majority, though opinion polls suggest the opposition may also struggle to form a government. Daily Caller framed the visit against Trump's reported consideration of another major military offensive against Iran, and quoted a senior military official who told the Daily Caller News Foundation in an earlier interview, “Things are about to get spicy,” a remark it said suggested U.S. operations against Iran could soon intensify.3,2
U.S. Vice President JD Vance declined to endorse Netanyahu in an interview on Monday. “I endorse American candidates, and that's where I'm focused on is the midterms,” Vance said in an interview with the digital media outlet 2WAY. “I'm not anti-endorsing him, but I'm not pro-endorsing him; I'm not getting involved in Israeli elections,” he said.3
Responding to Al Jazeera's question about discussions between Trump and Netanyahu on alleged plans to attack Iran, White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly repeated the president's claim that “Iran is in very bad condition” economically and militarily. Kelly also said the United States “will not be attacking Iran at any time” before the midterm elections.3
The reports differ on how the Pentagon responded. Axios said the Pentagon and the Israeli Embassy declined to comment, and that the prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Daily Caller said the Pentagon referred to Hegseth's X post showing his visit to troops at Ovda Air Base. Al Jazeera said a Defense Department spokesman had told it the department “declines to comment” on reports of the visit. The Israeli Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to Daily Caller's request for comment.1,2,3
Israel's election is set for October 27, and the midterm elections in the United States are roughly two weeks after the Israeli vote. Asked about Trump's endorsement, Vance was clear that his own focus was elsewhere. “I'm not getting involved in Israeli elections,” he said.1,2,3