Israel and Lebanon: Donald Trump denies Benjamin Netanyahu judgment

U.S. President Donald Trump appears to be losing patience with his Israeli counterpart, Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump sharply criticized Israel's attack near Beirut, deeming it unacceptable, especially just hours before a potential peace agreement with Iran was to be signed. He conveyed his strong disapproval, stating, "Why did Bibi have to launch a damn attack? I was so pissed off. I let him know. He has absolutely no judgment."

Trump elaborated on his frustration, noting on the platform Truth Social that the attack occurred an hour before the planned signing of the agreement. He conveyed to Netanyahu, "What the hell do you think you're doing?" urging him to refrain from further attacks on Hezbollah to avoid jeopardizing the deal. Trump expressed confidence that the agreement with Iran would be signed electronically within hours and in person the following week.

While acknowledging Israel's right to self-defense, Trump characterized the specific attack as "meaningless," as it resulted in no casualties. He called for de-escalation from all sides, emphasizing the imminent prospect of an Iran deal that could bring peace to the region, including Lebanon. He explicitly stated there should be no more Israeli attacks in Lebanon, nor attacks by other parties, including Hezbollah, against Israel.

However, shortly after the Israeli strike near Beirut, Hezbollah resumed its attacks on northern Israel, with the Israeli military reporting several impacts in border areas. The escalating conflict has complicated the negotiations with Iran, whose government has questioned the potential framework agreement with the U.S. following the Beirut attacks. Iran's Revolutionary Guards issued a threat of retaliation, stating, "The reaction of the fighters of Islam is imminent. Lebanon is our life, and crossing the red lines of the Islamic Republic will not be tolerated."