JULY 10, 2025 – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and a handful of senior Defense Department and military officials welcomed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the Pentagon to commemorate recent successes in military operations against Iran.
The two leaders expressed mutual gratitude for each country’s efforts to bring a swift end to the 12-day Iran-Israel war, which took place June 13-24, 2025. They were accompanied at the meeting by Deputy Defense Secretary Steve Feinberg; Navy Adm. Christopher W. Grady, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; Army Gen. Michael E. Kurilla, commander of U.S. Central Command; and Elbridge Colby, undersecretary of defense for policy.
“Absolute thanks, gratitude and admiration for Centcom, for the U.S. military, for the secretary of defense and the president of the United States,” Netanyahu said at the meeting’s outset.
He added that the U.S. has the gratitude of the Israeli people, the state of Israel and many others around the world for the successful execution of Operation Midnight Hammer.
During that June 21, 2025, mission, Centcom deployed multiple combined assets — including seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, F-22 Raptors and F-35 Lightning IIs — to inflict significant damage on Iran’s nuclear program at the sites of Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan.
For his part, Hegseth reciprocated Netanyahu’s gratitude by commending the Israeli military’s successful softening of Iran’s nuclear capabilities in the buildup to Midnight Hammer with Operation Rising Lion, which began June 13, 2025.
“[Thanks to] the skill of your professionals, what was accomplished was absolutely incredible,” Hegseth told Netanyahu.
“The precision with which you went at the nuclear capabilities, and then the opportunity we had … to help put the ‘finishing touches’ — you might say — on those facilities, it was an honor to be part of it,” he added.
Both Hegseth and Netanyahu credited the strong bond between the U.S. and Israel for their mutual success against Iran.
“I think the entire world took note; I think Iran took note; [and] I think everybody in the Middle East took note of American resolve and of the strength of our alliance,” Netanyahu said, adding, “It was like the roar of two lions, and it was heard around the world.”
“The feeling is mutual,” Hegseth said. “Thank you for being a friend, a model ally and [for] showing leadership and strength.” Along the lines of strength, both leaders also commented on President Donald J. Trump’s peace through strength philosophy as it relates to the situation in the Middle East.
“President Trump and I always talk about peace through strength — first comes strength, then comes the peace. And we hope we’ll realize the fruits of strength very soon in peace,” Netanyahu said.
“It does start with strength, but it always goes to peace,” Hegseth replied. “And we have that opportunity in the region because of your efforts and the efforts of our president. So, thank you.”
By Matthew Olay, DOD News