The meeting follows President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu in Israel’s election and his suggestion that fighting with Iran could resume.
By Shula Rosen
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel on Monday as the two countries discuss potentially resuming major combat operations against Iran, two sources with knowledge told Axios.
The previously unannounced meeting took place eight days before Israel’s election. U.S. refueling planes and fighter jets are deployed at Ovda Air Base, according to Axios.
Hegseth also met with U.S. troops stationed at the base, a source with knowledge told the outlet.
He later posted an image of himself visiting U.S. Central Command troops. CENTCOM oversees U.S. military operations in the Middle East, parts of Central Asia, South Asia and Egypt.
U.S. sources separately confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that representatives of the United Arab Emirates were not at the meeting, following reports indicating otherwise.
The Pentagon and the Israeli Embassy declined to comment on Hegseth’s visit. Netanyahu’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The meeting follows President Donald Trump’s endorsement of Netanyahu in Israel’s election and his suggestion that fighting with Iran could resume.
Trump described Netanyahu as a “Great Warrior Prime Minister” in a social media post announcing what he called his “Complete and Total Endorsement of Bibi Netanyahu.”
The president also warned Iran that further military action could follow unless Tehran changed course. The U.S. launched a war alongside Israel against Iran eight months ago.
If the Iranians do not “change their ways, rapidly, we will soon finish the job,” Trump said.
Netanyahu responded by thanking Trump for the “tremendous support and the joint work.”
Trump told Axios journalist and CNN global affairs analyst Barak Ravid in a brief phone interview that his endorsement of Netanyahu had been planned.
“I was always going to do that. I just didn’t want to do it too soon,” Trump said.
Trump said he and Netanyahu have a “good relationship” and would “continue to do well” together if the Israeli prime minister wins another term.
“It is important that Israel has a person they can count on,” Trump said.
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