Secret Pentagon Talks
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during the trip, with Doron Spielman confirming the meeting at the Uvda air force base in Israel’s southern Negev desert region.
Hegseth told reporters he “was there visiting our troops” and said he “had a chance to talk to the prime minister,” while the Pentagon declined to comment on the visit.
Spielman said Hegseth and Netanyahu discussed “the threats in the region” and the US-Israel partnership in dealing both offensively and defensively with those threats.
Talks covered regional threats4 of 7 outlets reported it · not in CBS News and 2 more▾
Hegseth also posted that it was “an honor to visit our warfighters” in U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, calling them “the best of our country, on a historic mission.”
What some reports left out
Hegseth flew in a military transport plane to avoid suspicion
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The visit came just over a week before Netanyahu’s party faces elections, and CBS News reported that the unannounced trip arrived after President Trump endorsed Netanyahu ahead of the vote. Trump’s endorsement framed the Iran question as a near-term risk, and CBS News quoted Trump saying, “it is not convenient for us.”
Al Jazeera reported that Netanyahu said, “We are committed to completing the elimination of the Iranian regime,” and Netanyahu added, “I have discussed this with Trump many times, including the day before yesterday.” Al Jazeera also reported that White House deputy press secretary Anna Kelly reiterated the US “will not be attacking Iran at any time prior to the midterm elections,” when asked about discussions between Trump and Netanyahu on alleged plans to attack Iran.
What Comes Next
Israeli and U.S. forces jointly launched strikes against Iran in late February, and CBS News said the two allies worked closely with each other early in the war.
CBS News reported that Netanyahu told Israeli media last week he is not planning to launch renewed strikes against Iran before the Oct. 27 elections, saying, “it is not convenient for us.”
Haaretz reported that Hegseth met Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz as the two countries discuss the possibility of renewed fighting with Iran, while Haaretz said the details of the conversations were not immediately clear.
Haaretz also reported that Hegseth declined to discuss what he described as a private conversation with Netanyahu, even as he confirmed visiting U.S. service members stationed in Israel.