Hegseth Set To Visit Israel As Iran Crisis Deepens, F-35 Turkey Debate Alarms Jerusalem

The Pentagon chief’s first official trip to Israel comes after U.S. strikes on Iran and amid Israeli concerns that advanced American stealth fighters could be sold to Turkey.

(Worthy News) – U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to arrive in Israel on Wednesday for his first official visit to the Jewish state since taking office, as Washington and Jerusalem coordinate amid a rapidly escalating confrontation with Iran and growing Israeli concern over a possible U.S. sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey.

CNN and Axios reported that Hegseth is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz. The visit is expected to focus heavily on Iran, following U.S. military strikes against Iranian targets after attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most critical shipping lanes.

According to U.S. Central Command, American forces launched “a series of powerful strikes” intended to impose heavy costs on Iran for targeting commercial shipping. The strikes followed reports that three vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz were attacked, raising fears that a fragile ceasefire reached only days earlier could quickly unravel.

Hegseth’s visit also comes as Israel is seeking assurances from the Trump administration over the future of America’s most advanced fighter aircraft in the Middle East. President Donald Trump has signaled openness to allowing Turkey to rejoin the F-35 program, a move that would mark a major shift in U.S. policy after Ankara was removed from the program in 2019 over its purchase of Russia’s S-400 missile defense system.

Israel has strongly opposed any move that would place F-35s in Turkish hands, warning that such a sale could alter the regional balance of power. Netanyahu has publicly criticized Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, telling CNN that Erdogan is “not exactly a model ally of the United States” and accusing him of threatening Israel, the region’s only Jewish state.

Currently, Israel is the only nation in the Middle East operating the F-35, giving the Israeli Air Force a crucial qualitative military edge as it faces threats from Iran, Hezbollah, Hamas, and other Iranian-backed forces across the region.

The reported visit is especially significant because Hegseth is attending the NATO summit in Turkey alongside President Trump. A U.S. official familiar with the schedule told CNN that Hegseth is expected to separate from Trump’s delegation Wednesday and travel to Israel for high-level consultations.

The Pentagon declined to comment on the reported trip, while the White House did not immediately issue a statement.

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