US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth canceled a planned 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 Revolutionary Guard in the Strait of Hormuz.

Two Israeli sources told CNN that Hegseth was expected, during his first visit to Israel as Secretary of Defense on Wednesday, to hold meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, according to CNN.

The sources said the visit was canceled on Wednesday morning, even though preparations had already begun.

The US Central Command announced on Tuesday that it had launched a series of strikes on Iran, confirming that the attacks were in response to Iranian attacks targeting three commercial ships while transiting the Strait of Hormuz.