US Defense Secretary Comments on Secret Visit to Israel

U.S. Secretary of Defense the U.S. Secretary of Defense commented Tuesday for the first time on his secret visit to Israel the previous day. During the visit, he toured the U.S. Central Command base and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ovda base. "As you know, American warriors are the best in the world. Today I returned from a visit to the Central Command base, where I met with pilots, aerial refueling personnel, and maintenance staff," the U.S. Secretary of Defense said. "They are doing historic work to ensure Iran never has a nuclear weapon. When I look them in the eye, I see the eyes of the best people in our country."

Reports emerged Tuesday morning about the U.S. Secretary of Defense's clandestine visit to Israel, during which Netanyahu met with the senior U.S. official at a base in southern Israel. The meeting reportedly lasted over two hours and included senior officials from the United Arab Emirates. The visit, which was not officially announced by the Pentagon, occurred at a particularly sensitive time, just eight days before Knesset elections and amid ongoing discussions between Israel and the United States regarding the possibility of renewing military action against Iran.