U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth traveled to Israel on Monday for an unannounced meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The meeting was confirmed by a senior U.S. military official and a second source in Israel, though the Pentagon has not issued formal comments.
The visit occurred eight days before Israel’s national elections, scheduled for October 27. It follows public statements by President Donald Trump regarding the possibility of resuming military operations against Iran after the upcoming U.S. midterm elections in November.
During the trip, Hegseth posted a photo on the social media platform X showing him addressing American service members at an undisclosed location within the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. Hegseth described the service members as being on a "historic mission" but did not explicitly mention Israel in the post.
This meeting follows a period of military coordination between the two nations, including joint strikes against Iran in February and U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025. While direct strikes between the U.S. and Iran have decreased in recent weeks, President Trump stated he is weighing whether to seek a deal or pursue further military action against Iran.
The meeting took place days before a domestic election in Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud-led coalition is currently facing a challenge from centrist parties, including one led by former Israel Defense Forces chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot. The next steps include the Israeli elections on October 27 and the U.S. midterm elections in November, after which President Trump has stated he will decide on future military or diplomatic policy regarding Iran.