Self-styled “Secretary of War” Pete Hegseth made a secret visit to Israel, and met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to an overnight “scoop” reported by Israeli journalist Barak Ravid at Axios, citing two sources “with knowledge.” The unannounced visit came ahead of elections both in the U.S. and in Israel, and talk in both countries about resuming combat operations in Iran.

Ravid’s sources told him that Hegseth’s meeting with Netanyahu took place at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel, where U.S. refueling planes and fighter jets are deployed. Hegseth later confirmed on X that he had met with troops assigned to U.S. Central Command but without any details as to location or his travels. Neither the Pentagon nor the Israeli prime minister’s office confirmed the Hegseth-Netanyahu meeting.