Pete Hegseth is digging in at the Pentagon as pressure mounts over his leadership, the Iran war and a growing wave of congressional scrutiny. Despite reports of tensions and criticism, President Donald Trump continues to back his defence chief, giving Hegseth a crucial political lifeline.The latest developments come after Hegseth’s unannounced visit to Israel, where he met Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss regional threats and US-Israel military cooperation. Netanyahu’s bloc emerged from Israel’s election with 53 seats, short of the 61 needed for a Knesset majority, leaving the country facing coalition uncertainty.