Trump claims he can control IDF actions in Lebanon due to Israeli respect

Former US President Donald Trump asserted that he could prevent Israel from launching further attacks in Lebanon, attributing this influence to the significant respect Israel holds for him stemming from his previous policies. Trump made these claims in an interview with Axios, suggesting his administration's actions, such as withdrawing from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal and authorizing strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, commanded Israeli compliance.

Trump expressed frustration with the scope of Israel's recent attacks in Lebanon, arguing they have hindered efforts to secure an agreement with Iran. While Israel has reportedly agreed to avoid attacking Beirut in response to US pressure, its continued military presence in a large buffer zone in southern Lebanon appears to contravene the terms of a US-Iran deal. This deal, signed by Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, aims to end the conflict that began in February with US-Israeli strikes on Iran.

A truce between Israel and Hezbollah, announced by a US official and ostensibly beginning Friday afternoon, has shown signs of fragility. Both Israeli and Hezbollah sources confirmed the agreement, yet exchanges of fire persisted into Saturday. Iran responded to the continued Israeli operations against Hezbollah by announcing it would close the Strait of Hormuz again. US officials reportedly made private requests for Israel to withdraw its forces from Lebanon, but these were rebuffed, directly contradicting Trump's assertion of his control over Israeli actions.

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Yeah, I will be. They have a lot of respect for me, and they do as I say.