US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an unannounced visit to Israel, according to Axios. The meeting took place on Monday, the outlet reported, citing two sources familiar with the matter.
Reuters said it could not immediately confirm the visit. The Pentagon and the Israeli Embassy in Washington did not respond to requests for comment, and there was no immediate word on what the two sides discussed.
Hegseth is regarded as a staunch ally of US President Donald Trump, while Netanyahu is heading into an election with the race on a knife's edge.
Trump voices support for Netanyahu
Earlier, on Sunday, President Trump used his Truth Social platform to back Netanyahu ahead of the parliamentary election due next week. It is the first vote since the Hamas-led attack of October 7, 2023, and the start of Israel's military campaign in Gaza.
Trump praised the Israeli prime minister as a US ally in confronting Iran and said Netanyahu had his "complete and total support."
"BIBI NETANYAHU WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!" Trump wrote.
Public opinion polls suggest Netanyahu's religious-nationalist alliance is forecast to lose its governing majority, while the opposition may also struggle to form a government.
On Monday, however, US Vice President JD Vance declined to express support for Netanyahu in an interview, citing a reluctance to intervene in Israel's election.
"I support American candidates, and I'm focused on the midterms," Vance told the digital outlet 2WAY. He added: "I don't object to endorsing him, but I'm not going to endorse; I don't get involved in Israeli elections."
Earlier this year, Vance traveled to Budapest and voiced support for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ahead of that country's election.
