Trump Urges Netanyahu to Scale Back Lebanon Offensive Amid Renewed Iran Talks
President Donald Trump reportedly pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to reconsider military operations in Lebanon during a tense call, emphasizing the need to preserve ongoing negotiations with Iran. Despite Trump's concerns, Netanyahu stated that the Israeli military would continue its operations in southern Lebanon.
In a recent phone conversation, President Donald Trump expressed strong disapproval of Israeli military actions in Lebanon, urging Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back plans that could jeopardize diplomatic efforts with Iran. Sources indicate that the call became heated, with Trump using explicit language to discuss the potential consequences of continued attacks in the region.
Despite Trump's intervention, Netanyahu affirmed that the Israeli military would persist with its operations in southern Lebanon, denying any existing ceasefire. However, Trump stated he believed a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah could be reached within the week, and claimed that during the call, both sides agreed to halt attacks on one another.
The ongoing conflict has significantly escalated, with the Lebanese Health Ministry reporting a death toll exceeding 3,400 since March. Concurrently, regional diplomatic efforts led by Qatar aimed to facilitate de-escalation and maintain a ceasefire. In light of Iranian threats to potentially activate other fronts in response to Israeli actions, the situation remains critically unstable, raising alarms about the broader implications for regional security and global trade routes.