Netanyahu, U.S. Defense Secretary Meet Secretly Amid Iran Tensions

Eight days before elections in Israel and the U.S., U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Haggett met secretly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Ovda Air Force base. The unannounced visit, revealed by Axios, occurred amid reports of potential joint preparations for an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities, alongside heightened alert levels in the IDF and security preparations for the Israeli elections.

Netanyahu canceled a planned attendance at a soccer match, traveling instead by private jet to the southern base, a departure from his usual helicopter travel. The extended meeting included Israel's Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Advisor Shmuel Ben Ezra, and potentially representatives from the United Arab Emirates. During his visit, Haggett surveyed U.S. forces and aircraft and met with American soldiers.

The meeting was kept highly secret, with the Pentagon, the Israeli Embassy, and the Prime Minister's office declining to comment. Haggett posted on X about visiting forces in the CENTCOM area but did not mention his stop in Israel or the meeting with Netanyahu.

Reports suggest Netanyahu had previously presented intelligence to then-President Donald Trump indicating Iran's efforts to revive its nuclear program, seeking a joint military operation before the Israeli elections on October 27 and U.S. midterm elections. Trump reportedly directed CENTCOM to finalize operational plans and encouraged Israel to prepare for action, though a final attack approval was not given.

Internal U.S. administration disagreements exist regarding the approach to Tehran, with Haggett and CENTCOM leadership favoring a tougher stance, while other White House advisors prefer diplomatic pressure and sanctions. The White House denied reports of an imminent attack, emphasizing no U.S. intention to start a war before the midterms.

Concurrently, IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir spoke with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Dan Kane. Reports indicate they discussed the possibility of a broad campaign opening within three weeks, with Zamir warning that an Iranian missile response could delay Israeli elections. The IDF is preparing for various security scenarios, including a freeze on troop leaves starting Thursday, reinforcing command centers, and bolstering forces in Judea and Samaria to address both security tensions and rising nationalist crime. The IDF stressed there is no concrete threat of an immediate attack but that preparations ensure maximum readiness and the ability to hold elections as scheduled. Shortly after, Netanyahu released a video from the airbase stating Israel is prepared to strike its enemies harder than ever, against a backdrop of regional tensions and potential escalation with Iran.