Is the US preparing for another military strike against Iran? US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has raised questions about Washington's next move. The unannounced visit comes eight days before Israel's election and amid discussions between the US and Israel about potentially resuming major combat operations against Iran, Axios reported.
Neither Tel Aviv nor Washington has issued a statement on the reported meeting so far. The visit followed US President Donald Trump's endorsement of Netanyahu ahead of next week's parliamentary election in Israel.
Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, the Middle East has witnessed a dramatic escalation in conflict. Israel has conducted military operations in Gaza, Lebanon and Iran, and the latest developments could have significant implications for Israel's political future as the country heads into an election.
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However, Netanyahu's religious-nationalist coalition is likely to lose its governing majority, while the opposition may also struggle to form a government, according to opinion polls.
Is the US Planning New Attacks on Iran?
According to an Axios report, Hegseth's meeting with Netanyahu took place at Ovda Air Base in southern Israel, where US refuelling aircraft and fighter jets were deployed.
Hegseth also met with US troops at the base and later posted an image of himself visiting US Central Command troops. CENTCOM oversees military operations across the Middle East, parts of Central Asia, South Asia and Egypt.
The Pentagon and the Israeli Embassy declined to comment, while the Israeli prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The visit comes after Netanyahu and Trump discussed the possibility of launching a major new operation against Iran ahead of the Israeli and US elections, according to Axios.
During the call, Netanyahu reportedly expressed concern over Israeli intelligence indicating that Iran was taking troubling steps to reconstitute its nuclear programme, according to an Israeli official.
The Israeli leader's call with Trump about a possible attack took place before the US president said he would not strike Iran ahead of the US midterm elections.
However, the Israeli and US militaries remain on alert and are completing preparations to be ready in case Trump changes his mind, sources said.
Trump Warns Iran as Netanyahu Vows to Confront Tehran
Meanwhile, Trump has warned that the United States could soon finish the job against Iran unless Tehran changes course.
Netanyahu, meanwhile, has compared Iran to cancer, arguing that unless it is removed completely, it will return. He has also vowed to bring down the Islamic Republic, even without American approval if necessary.
Trump has maintained that the job is not finished. Iran still has its regime. Iran still has its enriched uranium hidden somewhere. Iran still has its proxies --the Houthis, Hezbollah and Hamas which is barely breathing, but still alive.
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And Donald Trump says that unless Iran changes course, the United States will soon finish the job.
The demands effectively amount to three conditions: zero uranium enrichment and no nuclear programme; no ballistic missiles threatening Israel or American bases in the Gulf; and no funding for Iran's regional proxies.
However, Tehran has rejected all three demands.