Pete Hegseth Makes Unannounced Visit to Israel to Meet Netanyahu Eight Days Before Election

U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday, according to two sources with knowledge of the trip reported by Axios. The meeting was not publicly announced in advance and follows a pattern of high-level U.S.-Israeli consultations.

The visit carries significant timing, coming eight days before Israel's national election and amid active U.S.-Israeli discussions about potentially resuming major combat operations against Iran. The agenda and outcome of the Hegseth-Netanyahu talks were not immediately disclosed.