Hegseth meets Netanyahu on unannounced Israel visit — SkimNews
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- Pete Hegseth met Netanyahu at Israel's Uvda Air Force Base in the southern Negev desert on an unannounced Monday visit, confirmed by three Israeli officials
- Hegseth and Netanyahu discussed Iran and "threats in the region," covering both offensive and defensive aspects of the U.S.-Israel partnership, per Netanyahu spokesperson Doron Spielman
- Hegseth thanked Israel for hosting thousands of U.S. forces and conveyed Trump's personal support for Netanyahu, with Spielman describing "a deep personal relationship" as central to the discussion
- Trump endorsed Netanyahu on Sunday ahead of Israel's Oct. 27 parliamentary election — the country's first ballot since the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attack — just one day before Hegseth's arrival
- Both leaders have publicly ruled out striking Iran before voting day: Netanyahu said this month he is not seeking to attack Iran before the Israeli election, and Trump has said he won't attack before November U.S. midterms
- U.S. and Israeli forces launched joint strikes against Iran in late February that set off the wider Middle East war, and Israel has hosted additional U.S. military aircraft since at least February
Why it matters: With both Netanyahu and Trump publicly declining to attack Iran before their respective elections (Oct. 27 and November midterms), Hegseth's unannounced visit underscores that the administration is prioritizing behind-closed-doors coordination with its closest Middle East ally rather than escalation — even as joint U.S.-Israeli strikes in late February prove the military partnership remains actively engaged and Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia widen the front.
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