JERUSALEM(National Times)- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived in Israel on an unannounced visit, and discussed the Iran war with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as tensions continue to simmer between the US and Iran.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the Israeli PM, confirmed that Netanyahu had met Hegseth at the Uvda air force base in Israel\u2019s southern Negev desert region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Netanyahu and Mr Hegseth discussed \u201cthe threats in the region\u201d and the US-Israel partnership in dealing both \u201coffensively and defensively\u201d with those threats, he said in a brief phone call.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The defence secretary thanked Israel for hosting US forces, which Spielman said numbered in the thousands, and discussed President Donald Trump\u2019s support for the prime minister.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Israeli PM celebrates Trump\u2019s endorsement ahead of next week\u2019s election<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a deep personal relationship here that was at the core of this discussion,\u201d Spielman said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Pentagon has not publicly commented on Mr Hegseth\u2019s visit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Earlier, he posted that he had visited US service members in the Central Command area of responsibility, which covers the Middle East, northeast Africa and parts of Asia, but did not specify where he had met the personnel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hegseth\u2019s visit comes as tensions flare between the US and Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, and Yemen\u2019s Houthis intensify their attacks on Saudi Arabia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Israeli prime minister also said he spoke with President Trump on Sunday about the importance of eliminating the Iranian government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe are committed to completing the elimination of the Iranian regime,\u201d Mr Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office. \u201cI have discussed this with Trump many times, including the day before yesterday.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Netanyahu basks in Trump endorsement<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Netanyahu basked in Trump\u2019s endorsement on Monday ahead of close-fought elections, airing a phone call in which the US president predicted he would win, and suggested they may again attack Iran together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI think you\u2019re going to have a tremendous victory, actually,\u201d the US president can be heard saying on speakerphone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re the man I want by my side, Bibi,\u201d Donald Trump said, referring to Mr Netanyahu by his nickname.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Netanyahu, while reminding the famously loose-lipped president that they were on an open line, hailed Trump for joining Israel in attacking Iran in February.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDonald, we have a job to finish,\u201d Netanyahu beamed. \u201cWe\u2019ll finish it together. We\u2019ll finish it, and no one else will do it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Netanyahu did not elaborate, but again described Iran as \u201cthe greatest danger\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Trump, 80, and Netanyahu, who turns 77 on Wednesday, have forged a close partnership at a time when both are vastly unpopular in public opinion in most democratic nations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The pair have also managed to avoid prosecution while in power, with Mr Netanyahu facing charges of corruption that could land him in prison.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
JERUSALEM(National Times)- US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth arrived in Israel on an unannounced visit, and discussed the Iran war with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, as tensions continue to simmer between the US and Iran. Doron Spielman, a spokesperson for the Israeli PM, confirmed that Netanyahu had met Hegseth at the Uvda air force base […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":135170,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-135169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-latest_news","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n