Tel Aviv, Israel — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel this week and met privately with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu just days before Israel’s Oct. 27 election, as Washington and Jerusalem continue discussing their military posture toward Iran.
Israeli officials confirmed that Hegseth met Netanyahu at Ovda Air Force Base in southern Israel, where U.S. aircraft and personnel are stationed. A Netanyahu spokesperson said the two discussed “threats in the region” and U.S.-Israeli cooperation in both offensive and defensive operations.
The timing drew attention because President Donald Trump had endorsed Netanyahu one day earlier, calling him a key partner against Iran and warning that the United States could otherwise be left to confront Tehran alone.
Hegseth said only that he was in the region visiting American troops and declined to describe his conversation with Netanyahu.
The meeting also comes amid renewed debate over whether the U.S. and Israel could escalate operations against Iran after the elections. Israeli officials said the discussion included regional threats, but neither government publicly announced any new military action.
Netanyahu has made his relationship with Trump a central part of his reelection campaign, while his opponents have criticized direct U.S. involvement in Israel’s vote.
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