U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the Pentagon on 9 July, greeting the Israeli leader with an enhanced honor cordon before closed-door talks on regional security. Gen. Michael Erik Kurilla, head of U.S. Central Command, joined the meeting, which marked Netanyahu’s third visit to the United States since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January. Both officials praised recent coordinated military actions aimed at Iran. Hegseth commended the Israeli strike on Iranian targets and lauded U.S. B-2 bomber raids on three Iranian nuclear facilities, saying the operations “sent a message to the world.” Netanyahu replied that “the entire world, and Iran in particular, took note” of American resolve and of the strength of the U.S.–Israel alliance, describing the joint show of force as “the roar of two lions.” No new defense agreements were announced, but the Pentagon meeting underscored deepening security cooperation as Washington and Jerusalem seek to deter Tehran’s nuclear and regional ambitions. Netanyahu’s visit to the Pentagon followed dinners with President Trump and meetings with other senior U.S. officials earlier in the week amid continuing efforts to negotiate a cease-fire in Gaza and rising international scrutiny of Israel’s military campaign.