Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth quietly visited Israel on Monday and met with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, CBS News, Reuters and The Jerusalem Post reported. CBS News cited a senior US military official, and Reuters cited a person familiar with the matter. The Jerusalem Post reported that two sources confirmed the meeting to the Israeli news site Walla.

The meeting was first reported by Axios, Reuters reported. The Jerusalem Post reported, citing Axios, that Hegseth and Netanyahu met at an air base in southern Israel where the US deploys refueling planes and fighter jets. The person who spoke to Reuters did not say what Hegseth and Netanyahu discussed.

Hegseth said on X that he was visiting US service members in the Central Command area, which covers the Middle East, Reuters and CBS News reported. He did not mention Israel, CBS News reported. "The best of our country, on a historic mission. Godspeed," he wrote, The Jerusalem Post reported. The Pentagon declined to comment, and Netanyahu's office did not immediately respond, Reuters reported.

US sources said representatives of the United Arab Emirates were not at the meeting, despite reports saying otherwise, The Jerusalem Post reported.

The visit came just over a week before Israel's October 27 election, CBS News reported. Netanyahu's Likud-led coalition faces several centrist challengers, including a party led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot, CBS News reported. President Donald Trump endorsed Netanyahu on Sunday, Reuters and CBS News reported.

It also comes as Trump weighs whether to resume military action against Iran after next month's US midterm elections, CBS News reported. US and Israeli forces launched joint strikes on Iran in late February, Reuters reported. Netanyahu has said he is not seeking to attack Iran before the Israeli election, and Trump has said he will not attack Iran before the midterms, Reuters reported. Tensions between the US and Iran have flared over the Strait of Hormuz, Reuters reported.

What we know: Hegseth met Netanyahu in Israel on Monday during a visit that was not announced in advance.
What we don't: What Hegseth and Netanyahu discussed, including whether they talked about renewed strikes on Iran.