Hegseth to Visit Israel Ahead of Trump’s Middle East Tour, Amid Rising Tensions with Iran
The May 12 visit will be Hegseth’s first to Israel since taking office, amid growing U.S.-Israel differences over possible strikes on Iran’s nuclear sites.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) — U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is expected to visit Israel next week ahead of President Donald Trump’s planned tour of the Middle East, two Israeli officials told Axios.
The visit, scheduled for May 12, marks Hegseth’s first trip to Israel since assuming his role and comes at a time of deepening divisions between the U.S. and Israeli governments over potential military strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities. It also coincides with the ongoing war in Gaza and continued U.S. military operations in Yemen.
According to Axios, Hegseth is set to meet with Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu before continuing on to Saudi Arabia, where he will join Trump. While Trump is also expected to visit Qatar and the United Arab Emirates during his regional tour, no stop in Israel is currently on the itinerary.
A Pentagon spokesperson declined a request from AXIOS to comment on the defense secretary’s travel plans.
Behind the scenes, Israeli defense officials and pro-Israel groups in Washington have raised concerns over Trump’s appointments to key Pentagon positions, many of whom are believed to hold skeptical views about extended U.S. military involvement in the Middle East—especially regarding Iran, according to AXIOS.
In recent weeks, Netanyahu and his senior advisers have reportedly been lobbying their American counterparts to consider a military option against Iran, underscoring the strategic importance of Hegseth’s visit in shaping ongoing discussions between the two allies.
In recent months, Netanyahu has intensified efforts to align with key U.S. policymakers in advocating for a tougher stance on Iran, warning that Tehran’s advancing nuclear program poses a critical threat to regional stability. Hegseth’s visit is expected to play a pivotal role in clarifying Washington’s position and potentially influencing future policy coordination between the two nations.
