Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is expected to make his first official visit to Israel on Wednesday, according to multiple sources familiar with his travel plans. The trip comes at a sensitive moment, although it remains unclear whether overnight U.S. military strikes inside Iran will affect the schedule.

During his visit, Hegseth is expected to meet with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisroel Katz for high-level discussions, one source told CNN.

One of the central issues expected to dominate the meetings is Israel’s concern over reports that the United States may move forward with a deal to provide Turkey with advanced F-35 stealth fighter jets. President Donald Trump raised the possibility during the NATO summit currently taking place in Ankara, prompting unease in Yerushalayim.

Hegseth had previously planned to travel to Israel in May 2025 but canceled that visit. He last visited the country in 2018, before entering government service, while working as a journalist.

News of the planned trip comes just hours after Netanyahu sharply criticized Turkey’s leadership during an interview with CNN on Tuesday.

The prime minister said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan is “not exactly a model ally of the United States.”

Netanyahu also warned that Erdoğan “threatens to destroy my country, the one and only Jewish state.”

Israel is currently the only country in the Middle East operating the F-35, widely regarded as America’s most advanced fighter aircraft.

According to a U.S. official familiar with the travel plans, Hegseth—who accompanied President Trump to the NATO summit in Turkey—is expected to break away from the president’s delegation on Wednesday to continue on to Israel.

Neither the White House nor the Pentagon publicly confirmed the visit. The White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment, while the Pentagon declined to discuss the reported itinerary.

{Matzav.com}