US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Made Secret Visit to Israel to Meet Netanyahu

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel, meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ovda Airbase in southern Israel. The base hosts U.S. refueling aircraft and fighter jets. The visit occurred eight days before Israeli elections, according to Axios, which cited two sources familiar with the matter. Hegseth also met with American military personnel stationed at the base, responsible for operations in the Middle East, Central and South Asia, and Egypt. He later posted photos from his visit to U.S. Central Command troops on social media platform X.

This visit follows recent phone calls between Netanyahu and U.S. President Donald Trump, during which they reportedly discussed a potential joint operation against Iran's military and nuclear facilities. An Israeli official indicated that Trump initially favored resuming strikes but later showed hesitation, while a U.S. official noted the President's position on the matter was inconsistent. The resumption of large-scale military action could significantly impact the upcoming Israeli elections on October 27, as well as the U.S. midterm elections scheduled for a week later. The Pentagon and the Israeli Embassy declined to comment on Hegseth's visit, and the Prime Minister's office did not immediately respond to inquiries.