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US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was expected to arrive in Israel on Wednesday to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, according to a senior US official confirmed to Walla and reported by the Jerusalem Post. However, a report from TASS, citing the Jerusalem Post, said the visit had been canceled. The conflicting reports come as the US conducts strikes against Iran, which have drawn response from Iran's Revolutionary Guards.

Coverage Comparison

Coverage of the story is split between two reports. The Jerusalem Post, citing a senior US official, reported that Hegseth was expected to arrive in Israel on Wednesday and meet with Netanyahu and Katz. In contrast, TASS, citing the Jerusalem Post, reported that Hegseth had canceled the visit. The TASS report did not provide a reason for the cancellation, noting that the Jerusalem Post had not reported one.

Both reports agree that Hegseth is currently with US President Donald Trump at the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, and that the Israel visit was planned against the backdrop of US strikes against Iran. The Jerusalem Post framed the strikes as a response to Iranian attacks on commercial tankers, while TASS described them simply as renewed strikes.

Key Claims

  • Hegseth was expected to meet with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz during a brief visit to Israel, as reported by the Jerusalem Post citing a senior US official.
  • TASS reported that Hegseth canceled the visit, citing the Jerusalem Post, but no reason was given.
  • Hegseth is currently in Ankara with President Trump for the NATO summit, as stated in both reports.
  • The US strikes against Iran were in response to attacks on commercial tankers in the waters of Oman, according to the Jerusalem Post. The report specifies three tankers near the Strait of Hormuz.
  • Iran reported injuries after the US strikes, according to Iranian state media, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Iran's Revolutionary Guards claimed they targeted 85 US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to US ceasefire violations, as reported by the Jerusalem Post. Kuwait's military reported sirens due to hostile missile and drone attacks.
The Jerusalem Post also noted that Washington announced it was canceling sanctions relief on Iranian oil sales hours before the strikes, a move intended to punish Iran and renew economic pressure.