Hegseth discussed Iran with Netanyahu during unannounced visit to Israel, officials say

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth discussed Iran with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday 19 October, three Israeli officials told Reuters. They gave no further details. Axios first reported the visit.

Israel’s Army Radio reported that the meeting took place at an air force base in the southern desert, according to Reuters. Ynetnews named it as Uvda (Ovda) base and reported that Defence Minister Israel Katz and National Security Council head Shmuel Ben Ezra attended, along with foreign representatives who it said were apparently from the United Arab Emirates.

The Pentagon declined to comment, Reuters and CBS News reported. Mr Hegseth said on X that he had visited US service members in Central Command’s area of responsibility, describing them as “on a historic mission”, without naming Israel, CBS News reported.

The visit came a day after President Donald Trump endorsed Mr Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s 27 October election. US and Israeli forces launched joint strikes on Iran in late February. Mr Trump has said he will not attack Iran before the US midterm elections in November, and Mr Netanyahu told Israeli media this month that he was not seeking to attack Iran before the Israeli vote, Reuters reported.

For Mr Trump’s endorsement, see our earlier report; for Mr Netanyahu’s latest remarks on Iran, see this report.