U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made a quiet visit to Israel on Monday to confer with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a senior U.S. military official and a second source involved in the matter in Israel. Axios was first to report Hegseth’s visit. Michal Ben-Gal, Charlie D’Agata and Eleanor Watson contributed to this report.
The unannounced meeting took place just over a week before Netanyahu’s party competes in national elections, and amid remarks from President Donald Trump floating a possible resumption of military actions against Iran after the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. Man whose wife died in Iran strike presses Vance on “fundamental failures. According to in Kentucky campaign stop, Trump, He “can do stuff that is unbelievable.
Hegseth posted a photo on X on Monday showing him speaking to American service members on what he termed a “historic mission” within U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility. However, he did not explicitly disclose his specific location or mention traveling to Israel.
The Pentagon declined to comment regarding the trip, while Israeli officials were approached for confirmation following initial news reports of the visit. Has reached out to the Israeli government for comment.
Military coordination between the two nations remains close after joint strikes launched against Iran in late February. Previously, U.S. forces also hit three Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025 during an earlier escalation of regional hostilities.
Although direct military engagements between Washington and Tehran have temporarily paused in recent weeks, Trump publicly noted that he is weighing whether to pursue a deal with Iranian leaders or “annihilate” the country, indicating a final decision could follow the November midterms.
In Israel, Netanyahu—the longest-serving prime minister in the country’s history—faces significant political pressure ahead of the Oct. 27 vote. His right-wing Likud party leads a coalition seeking to maintain power against centrist rivals, including a faction headed by former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot. Full transcript of “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan,” Oct.
Addressing the security situation last week, Netanyahu told Israeli media that launching new strikes against Iran prior to the Oct. 27 elections was “not convenient for us.”
Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu on Sunday, describing him as a “Great Warrior Prime Minister, and an even greater Partner for Peace in combatting the Islamic Republic of Iran.”
Despite the endorsement, the White House has periodically exerted pressure on Israeli leadership. During the spring and summer, the administration urged Israel to limit operations in Lebanon against Iran-backed Hezbollah, pushed for action against West Bank settler violence, and encouraged a longer-term agreement with Hamas regarding Gaza.
The political timing has also drawn commentary from U.S. officials. Last month in Kyiv, Trump envoy Jared Kushner suggested that Israeli political dynamics were affecting regional progress, remarking, “They just have a crazy election, and that makes them a little irrational in certain regards.”
