Hegseth to meet Netanyahu during surprise Israel visit

U.S. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to hold talks with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.

The Israeli news outlet, Ynet, said Netanyahu travelled to Ovda Air Base in southern Israel on Monday evening for the meeting.

The U.S. Department of Defence had yet to issue an official statement on the visit as of Tuesday.

Hegseth, however, disclosed on X that he had met with U.S. troops serving under the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which oversees American military operations in the Middle East.

The visit comes a week before Israel’s parliamentary election, with Netanyahu facing a tight race against his main challenger, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot.

Despite occasional tensions in their relationship, U.S. President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu on Sunday.

Meanwhile, U.S. news outlet Axios suggested that Hegseth’s visit could fuel speculation about a possible renewed escalation of the conflict with Iran.