U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday, October 19, reportedly meeting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as tensions surrounding Iran and the possibility of renewed American military operations continue to shape developments in the Middle East.
The meeting was first reported by Axios, citing two sources familiar with the visit. CBS News subsequently confirmed the meeting through a senior U.S. military official and a source in Israel.
Hegseth publicly acknowledged traveling to the Middle East but did not disclose his exact location or provide details about discussions with Israeli officials.
The Pentagon declined to comment on the reported meeting.
Hegseth Visits U.S. Troops During Middle East Trip
In a social media post, Hegseth confirmed that he had visited American service members operating within the U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility.
He described the troops as carrying out a “historic mission” but did not explain the purpose of the deployment or identify the military facilities he visited.
U.S. Central Command oversees American military operations across much of the Middle East.
According to Axios, Hegseth met Netanyahu at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel, where American military aircraft have been stationed.
Neither the Pentagon nor the Israeli government initially released an official account of the discussions.
The visit comes amid uncertainty over Washington’s next steps regarding Iran.
American and Israeli forces conducted joint strikes against Iran earlier this year, and President Donald Trump has recently discussed the possibility of further military action.
The United States and Iran have largely refrained from directly attacking one another in recent weeks, although their broader confrontation remains unresolved.
Visit Comes Days Before Israeli Elections
Hegseth’s visit also took place just eight days before Israel’s parliamentary elections, scheduled for October 27.
Trump publicly endorsed Netanyahu ahead of the vote, adding another political dimension to the timing of the American defense secretary’s trip.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance, however, said in an interview on Monday that he would not involve himself in Israel’s election.
The reported meeting between Hegseth and Netanyahu comes as both governments face decisions about regional security and their approach to Iran.
While the visit itself has been confirmed, the specific subjects discussed during the reported meeting have not been publicly disclosed.
No official announcement has been made regarding new American military operations or changes to U.S. policy following the trip.
