US Defence Secretary Hegseth to visit Israel amid concerns over potential F-35 sale to Turkey

US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth is expected to make his first official visit to Israel on Wednesday amid heightened regional tensions and Israeli concerns over reports that Washington may consider approving the sale of F-35 stealth fighter jets to Turkey.

It was not immediately clear whether recent US military strikes targeting Iran would affect the timing of the visit or lead to changes in the planned schedule.

According to a source cited by CNN, Hegseth is expected to meet with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz.

The source said one of the visit’s principal objectives is to reassure Israeli leaders regarding reports that the United States may approve the sale of advanced F-35 fighter aircraft to Turkey, an issue that gained attention after US President Donald Trump indicated during the NATO summit in Ankara that he was open to strengthening defence cooperation with Turkey.

Israel is currently the only country in the Middle East operating the US-built F-35 Lightning II, the most advanced combat aircraft in the American arsenal.

Any decision to provide F-35 aircraft to Turkey would require approval through the US government and Congress and would represent a significant shift in US policy after Turkey was removed from the multinational F-35 program in 2019 following its acquisition of the Russian S-400 air defence system.