The meeting took place on October 19
US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel on October 19 and met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. A senior US military official told CBS about the meeting, and a second person familiar with it in Israel confirmed it on Tuesday morning. Axios separately reported the encounter, citing two people with knowledge. The Pentagon declined to comment.[1], [2]
Hegseth posted a photograph of himself speaking to American service members and said he was in US Central Command’s area of responsibility. The post did not identify Israel or mention Netanyahu. CBS also sought a response from the Israeli government.[1]