Full coverage· Security· Updated 09:31

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Makes Unannounced Visit to Israel

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth made an unannounced, secret visit to Israel on Monday, holding a lengthy meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Ovda Air Force base in southern Israel. The meeting, which lasted over two hours, took place just eight days before the Israeli Knesset elections scheduled for October 27.

24 newsrooms · 4 languages · since 00:00

Plus

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth Makes Unannounced Visit to Israel — Illustration by baba

Photos · 10

Photos the newsrooms posted about this story, and the ones the IDF and Magen David Adom released.

Official photos are free. 10 more with Plus.

What happened

01US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth secretly met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Ovda Air Force base on Monday.
02The meeting occurred eight days before the Israeli Knesset elections and focused on joint preparations regarding Iran's nuclear program.
03Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Advisor Shmuel Ben Ezra, and senior UAE officials also attended the meeting.
04The secret visit took place one day after US President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu for the upcoming elections.
05US Vice President J.D. Vance declined to endorse Netanyahu, stating his focus remains on the US midterm elections.
06The Pentagon, the Israeli Embassy in Washington, and the Prime Minister's Office declined to comment on the unannounced visit.

The discussions focused on joint preparations and potential operational options for resuming military action against Iran's nuclear program. The meeting at the southern base, which hosts US refueling and fighter jets, was also attended by Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz, National Security Advisor Shmuel Ben Ezra, and senior officials from the United Arab Emirates. During his visit, Hegseth also met with American soldiers stationed at the base.

The secret meeting occurred one day after US President Donald Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu, while US Vice President J.D. Vance declined to endorse him, stating he does not interfere in Israeli elections. The Pentagon, the Israeli Embassy in Washington, and the Prime Minister's Office all declined to comment on the visit, which was first reported by Axios.

Summarized by baba from the reports of 14 newsrooms. Updated 08:47