Hegseth meets Netanyahu at Ovda base ahead of Israel's October 27 election
Key Facts
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Ovda air base in southern Israel, according to Axios, ahead of Israel's election and against the backdrop of U.S. and Israeli positions on attacking Iran. An Israeli source familiar with the matter confirmed to CBS News on Tuesday morning that the meeting between the two officials had taken place. Hegseth had announced on social media that he was in the Middle East, saying he was visiting U.S. troops, according to the Associated Press. The Pentagon declined to comment when the agency asked about the visit and related reports. The meeting coincides with a pledge by U.S. President Donald Trump on the timing of any attack on Iran and a warning from Netanyahu that Israel would respond forcefully if attacked.
On the electoral front, Trump announced his support for Netanyahu's re-election campaign on the Sunday before the visit, according to The National, describing his position as a "complete and total endorsement." The backing came after the Israeli prime minister rejected Trump's latest plan to advance the stalled Gaza ceasefire in August, according to the Associated Press. U.S. Vice President JD Vance declined to endorse Netanyahu in the election, keeping his focus on U.S. races. "I endorse American candidates, and that's what I'm focused on in the midterm elections," Vance said, according to the agency. Opinion polls cited by Reuters indicate Netanyahu's coalition is expected to lose its governing majority, with the opposition potentially also struggling to form a government.
In the Gulf, Axios reported that additional Patriot missile batteries had been sent to protect oil and gas facilities in Saudi Arabia and Qatar, in a move directly related to defending energy production facilities. The protection reported by the website covers facilities in both countries as part of air defense reinforcements dedicated to the oil and gas sectors. On sanctions, the U.S. Treasury Department warned those facilitating money laundering or sanctions evasion on Iran's behalf that they risked exclusion from the U.S. financial system. The warning covers financial facilitators and companies dealing with Iran through money laundering or sanctions evasion activities, according to the department's statement. Treasury pledged in the same statement to continue pursuing these activities, saying it would continue to "monitor, identify and disrupt sanctions evasion attempts."
Against the backdrop of energy markets, Reuters reported in late September that crude exports from major Middle Eastern producers were recovering, citing preliminary Kpler data. In the trading session covered by the report, oil pared gains on expectations that Qatari mediators would hold talks with both sides. In the October 8 session, Brent crude settled up $4.08 a barrel, or 4.1%, at $104.28, according to Reuters. The agency attributed that session's gains partly to growing supply disruptions caused by a hurricane approaching the U.S. Gulf Coast. In early trading on Friday, October 9, Brent fell 72 cents, or 0.7%, to $103.53 a barrel, according to Reuters, following the previous session's rise.
On the U.S. position on the use of force, Trump announced himself on Truth Social that the United States would not attack Iran before the midterm elections, according to Axios. "We will not attack Iran at any time before the midterm elections," the U.S. president pledged, specifying the period covered by his statement on an attack. Investing.com reported that crude prices pared some gains after Trump said Washington would not attack Iran before the U.S. elections scheduled for November. On the Israeli side, Netanyahu warned of a forceful response if Israel were attacked, according to Reuters. But he declined to discuss details of a possible pre-emptive strike after Israel's election when asked about that possibility.
The U.S.-Israeli military meeting comes as Trump combines support for Netanyahu's election campaign with a public pledge concerning the timing of an attack on Iran. Meanwhile, the Israeli prime minister heads into the election after polls cited by Reuters showed his coalition would struggle to retain the majority needed to govern. Potential difficulties in forming a government extend to the opposition camp as well, according to the same polls. Vance had linked his electoral activity to American candidates and the midterm elections, while Trump expressed direct support for Netanyahu's re-election. Israelis are scheduled to vote on October 27, according to the Associated Press.