Hegseth meets Netanyahu ahead of elections, possible Iran war restart

What happened: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday and met with Prime Minister Why it matters: The visit came just over a week before Netanyahu's party faces elections, and after Trump said he is still weighing whether to cut a deal with Iran's leadership or "annihilate" the country. Netanyahu said last week he is not planning renewed strikes on Iran before the Oct. 27 elections. Key numbers: Elections are about a week away, on Oct. 27. Israeli and U.S. forces jointly launched strikes against Iran in late February. The U.S. also struck in June 2025. Coverage: 3 outlets in 24h

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made an unannounced visit to Israel on Monday and met with Prime Minister

The visit came just over a week before Netanyahu's party faces elections, and after Trump said he is still weighing whether to cut a deal with Iran's leadership or "annihilate" the country. Netanyahu said last week he is not planning renewed strikes on Iran before the Oct. 27 elections. Key numbers: Elections are about a week away, on Oct. 27. Israeli and U.S. forces jointly launched strikes against Iran in late February. The U.S. also struck in June 2025.