Hegseth meets Netanyahu ahead of elections, possible Iran war restart
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel just over a week before Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stands for elections, and as President Trump floats restarting the Iran war.
Key points
- Hegseth met Netanyahu in an unannounced Israel visit about a week before Israeli elections.
- The trip follows Trump's talk of possibly resuming military operations against Iran after the U.S. midterms.
- Netanyahu said he is not planning renewed strikes on Iran before the Oct. 27 elections.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to a senior U.S. military official who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity. A second source involved in the matter in Israel confirmed the meeting on Tuesday morning.
The visit came just over a week before Netanyahu's party faces elections, and after President Trump raised the possibility of resuming military operations against Iran following next month's U.S. midterm elections.
Pentagon gives no details
Hegseth said in an X post that he was in U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility on Monday, sharing a photo of himself addressing American service members he described as being "on a historic mission." He did not name his location or mention Israel. The Pentagon declined to comment on the visit, and CBS News reached out to the Israeli government for comment. Axios first reported the visit.
it is not convenient for us
— Benjamin Netanyahu
Elections and Iran
Israeli and U.S. forces jointly launched strikes against Iran in late February, and the U.S. struck three Iranian nuclear sites in June 2025. Trump has said he is still weighing whether to reach a deal with Iran's leadership or "annihilate" the country, a decision he says could come after the November midterms.
Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, faces political uncertainty in the Oct. 27 elections, with his Likud-led coalition facing several more centrist challengers, including one party run by former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot. He told Israeli media last week he is not planning renewed strikes on Iran before the vote, saying, "it is not convenient for us." Trump endorsed Netanyahu on Sunday.
