US Defense Secretary Cancels Visit to Israel Following Military Escalation Between Washington and Tehran - Sarmad

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth canceled a scheduled visit to Israel on Wednesday following the latest military escalation between Washington and Tehran, as the US military launched strikes on Iran in response to attacks by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in the Strait of Hormuz, according to CNN.

Two Israeli sources told CNN that Hegseth was expected to hold meetings with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz during his first visit to Israel in his capacity as defense secretary on Wednesday.

He also planned to visit Israeli Air Force bases. The sources said the visit was canceled on Wednesday morning, even though preparations for it had already begun.

US Central Command announced on Tuesday that it had carried out a series of strikes on Iran, confirming that the attacks were in response to Iranian assaults that targeted three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.