Streets ablaze, war threat looms, and the pact that could change everything

The European Union's migration pact has officially come into effect, coinciding with heightened tensions in various global regions and a new survey on Ukrainian sentiment regarding the war. These developments marked the most significant foreign policy news of the week.

In a critical diplomatic intervention, Donald Trump worked to de-escalate the conflict between Israel and Iran on the 100th day of their confrontation. He balanced Israel's security interests against the risks of a wider war. While Trump managed to prevent further military actions by the parties on Monday, the situation remains tense. Trump reportedly warned the Israeli prime minister that Israel might have to fight alone if it engaged in another war with Iran.

The situation escalated on Sunday when Israel struck a Hezbollah target in Beirut. An Israeli source indicated the IDF notified CENTCOM before the attack but not the White House. A U.S. official stated Trump was displeased, having previously prevented a similar strike. Iran then launched missiles toward Israel, fulfilling its threats, though some in the IDF believed Tehran was bluffing. Trump called Netanyahu, urging him to refrain from retaliatory strikes. Netanyahu argued that not responding would signal weakness. The conversation concluded without a firm decision. U.S. sources suggest Trump bought time, while the Israeli side interpreted the president's stance as not an explicit prohibition of retaliation. After consulting his security advisors and IDF leaders, Netanyahu informed the White House of his decision to proceed with airstrikes.

Trump claimed Israel notified the U.S. very late about Sunday's attacks, stating they were already en route. "But in the end, I managed to limit the Israeli attack," the U.S. president said. An Israeli official confirmed that Netanyahu and other Israeli leaders discussed target selection with Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday evening. Israel attacked multiple targets in Iran, including key equipment at the country's largest petrochemical plant. In response, Iran launched missiles toward Tel Aviv.

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But in the end, I managed to limit the Israeli attack.