Ovda Air Base, Israel - US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a previously unannounced visit to Israel, Israeli media reported on Tuesday.

The news outlet Ynet reported that Netanyahu had flown to the Ovda Air Base in southern Israel for the meeting with Hegseth on Monday evening.

The US Department of Defense has not yet commented. 

Hegseth wrote on X that he had met with troops from US Central Command, which is responsible for the Middle East.

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The visit comes a week before Israel's parliamentary election, in which Netanyahu faces a close contest against his main challenger, former military chief Gadi Eisenkot. 

President Donald Trump gave a full-throated endorsement of Netanyahu on Sunday.

The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Netanyahu in November 2024 over accusations of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza.

News outlet Axios linked Hegseth's visit to speculation about a possible renewed escalation in the conflict with Iran, which the US and Israel launched in February.