US Defense Secretary meets Netanyahu in unannounced Israel visit

United States Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an undisclosed visit to Israel on Monday. The meeting occurred just days before a closely contested parliamentary election in the country, according to reports citing sources with knowledge of the matter.

The encounter took place at an air force base located in Israel’s southern desert, as reported by Israel’s Army Radio. This high-level discussion happened while the veteran Israeli premier faces a knife-edge election that could determine the future direction of his government and its coalitions.

Hegseth later posted on social media that he had visited US service members in the Central Command area of responsibility. This command covers military operations in the Middle East, North Africa, and parts of Asia, though he did not explicitly mention the prime minister in his public statement.

A spokesman for the US Department of Defense declined to comment on the report regarding the secret meeting. The silence from official channels has drawn attention to the timing of the visit relative to the sensitive political climate in Israel ahead of the vote.

The discussions coincided with talks between the US and Israel about possibly resuming major combat operations against Iran. This strategic alignment comes as President Donald Trump recently endorsed Netanyahu, praising him as a key ally in the ongoing confrontation with Tehran and its regional proxies.

Trump declared his complete and total endorsement of the prime minister on his Truth Social platform. He warned that the US might face greater burdens if Israelis choose a different leader, emphasizing the importance of maintaining their current partnership for regional stability and security.

Vice President JD Vance stated he was not getting involved in Israeli elections during an interview earlier on Monday. He clarified that his focus remains on American candidates for the midterms, distinguishing his stance from the president's overt support for the incumbent Israeli leader.