Hegseth Plans Israel Visit Amid Turkey F-35 Concern

Reports citing three sources said U.S. defense chief Pete Hegseth plans to arrive in Israel on Wednesday, July 8, for his first Israel visit since taking office. He is expected to meet Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, with one purpose being to ease Israeli concern over a possible U.S. sale of F-35 fighters to Turkey. The planned stop comes as Hegseth attends the NATO summit in Ankara and as U.S. forces strike Iranian targets around Hormuz after tanker attacks. For Israel, the visit puts qualitative military edge, coordination with Washington and the Iranian threat on the same urgent agenda.