US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is reportedly arriving in Israel today, Wednesday, and will meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. The visit was previously reported as scheduled for Thursday, July 9.
Just before 02:50 Jerusalem, Israeli media reports indicated that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's visit to Israel has been moved back to today, Wednesday, July 8, with meetings expected with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. This reverses the earlier correction that had set the visit for Thursday, July 9, based on a senior American official.
The Zioneer reported at 02:20 Jerusalem, citing CNN, that Hegseth would arrive Wednesday. In rapid succession, at 02:20 Jerusalem, a US official told Barak Ravid (N12) that the visit was rescheduled to Thursday, and a senior American official confirmed that timing. The Zioneer published a further bulletin at 02:26 Jerusalem confirming the Thursday date. The source of the latest change back to Wednesday is not yet specified.
The visit comes amid ongoing US military operations against Iran. Hegseth and Katz spoke by phone on Monday, June 15, as The Zioneer reported. The Pentagon chief is expected to arrive from Ankara after participating in the Trump-Erdogan meeting, with discussions expected to cover the situation in Iran and the potential supply of F-35s to Turkey, according to a previous The Zioneer report at 02:41 Jerusalem.
The reason for the latest schedule change remains unclear, and the specific source for the new Wednesday timing has not been identified.
3 developments
- StrongDefense Minister Katz speaks with US counterpart Hegseth
- StrongUS Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth tours naval base at Guantanamo Bay
- DevelopingIsraeli officials to visit Washington amid difficulties in Iran talks — i24
- StrongUS Defense Secretary Hegseth meets CENTCOM commander at Florida headquarters
Source and signal
- Internal intake