Hegesth congratulated Katz on Israel’s ‘remarkable performance’ against Iran, says US Defense Dept.

By Jacob Magid

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19 July 2025, 4:41 pm

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Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (R) meets with Defense Minister Israel Katz (second from left) at the Pentagon in Washington, DC, on July 18, 2025. (Alex WROBLEWSKI / AFP)

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth congratulated Defense Minister Israel Katz during a meeting yesterday at the Pentagon on Jerusalem’s “remarkable performance” in the recent war against Iran that paved the way for the major US strikes on three of Iran’s nuclear sites, according to a US readout.

“Hegseth applauded Israel’s willingness to take bold action to lead in its own defense,” the report says

Hegseth told Katz that the US will “continue to enable Israel’s ability to defend itself,” it adds.

Katz had been trying to visit the US for months, but the trip had been put off due to visits by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Yesterday’s meeting at the Pentagon passed with little fanfare.