Hegseth's unannounced trip to the Ovda Air Base in southern Israel on Monday included a 90 minute meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. The Defense Secretary also told US troops in the region they were resolute in ensuring Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. This development occurs eight days before Israel's Oct. 27 parliamentary elections, as Iranian officials warn that the era of "hit and run" military attacks is over.
Friday, October 23, 2026
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White House Favors Preemptive Iran Strike After Trump Intelligence Review
War2 days ago
The administration in Washington has adopted a more aggressive posture toward Tehran following a series of high-level military briefings. White House sources cited by Haaretz on Wednesday report a shift in the US position toward favoring a preemptive strike after President Donald Trump reviewed intelligence and assessments provided by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who obtained the findings during a secret visit to Israel to coordinate offensive and defensive measures.
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