U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth confirmed on Tuesday that he had visited American forces in Israel and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but declined to disclose details of their discussions.
Speaking to reporters, Hegseth said he had visited U.S. troops and had the opportunity to speak with Netanyahu. He declined to reveal the substance of their conversation, while praising cooperation with the Israeli side.
The U.S. news outlet Axios linked the surprise visit to the possibility of renewed escalation in the conflict with Iran.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu reaffirmed his commitment to removing Iran’s leadership, describing the objective as Israel’s most important priority.
According to a statement issued by his office on Tuesday evening, Netanyahu said Israel remained committed to completing what he described as the elimination of the Iranian regime. He added that he had discussed the issue again with U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday.
The Israeli prime minister argued that as long as Iran’s current leadership remains in power, it will continue pursuing efforts to develop nuclear weapons. He described regime change as the only way to prevent that outcome.
