US secretary of defence Pete Hegseth speaks at a National POW/MIA Recognition Day ceremony at the Pentagon in Arlington. (EPA Images pic)WASHINGTON: 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.
Reuters could not immediately confirm the visit. The Pentagon and Israel's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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 Oct 7, 2023, that shook the country and plunged the Middle East into turmoil, as Israel went to war in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran.
