Benjamin Natanyahu, Pete Hegseth
His announcement came several hours after Axios reported his visit to Israel and meeting with Netanyahu.
Hegseth announced late Monday on social media that he was in the Middle East visiting US troops on what he described as an unspecified, “historic mission”. US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday, Axios reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Earlier reporting noted: News of Hegseth’s trip comes a day after US President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu in next week’s parliamentary election in Israel – its first vote since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, that shook the country and plunged the Middle East into turmoil, as Israel went to war in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran. Netanyahu’s religious-nationalist coalition is projected to lose its governing majority, although opinion polls suggest the opposition could also struggle to form a government. Earlier reporting noted: US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday, Axios reported, citing two sources with knowledge.
The vote will be the country’s first since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which triggered a war in Gaza and heightened tensions across the Middle East. The visit comes a day after US President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu ahead of Israel’s parliamentary election next week.