Donald Trump reportedly confronted Benjamin Netanyahu in an angry phone call on Monday after the Israeli prime minister threatened to resume airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs. According to Axios, the US president shouted, 'What the fuck are you doing?' and told Netanyahu, 'You're fucking crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.'
The call came after Netanyahu ordered the Israeli military to resume bombing the Dahiya area of Beirut, targeting Hezbollah. The Israel Defense Forces issued evacuation warnings to Lebanese civilians, causing thousands to flee. Iran announced on Tuesday it would suspend peace talks with the US over Israel's campaign in southern Lebanon, insisting that Lebanon be included in a ceasefire agreement linked to negotiations on the Strait of Hormuz and US blockade of Iranian ports.
Israeli news network Channel 12 contested the report, with chief political analyst Amit Segal saying Trump did not attack Netanyahu personally and that the two agreed Netanyahu would refrain from attacking Beirut suburbs if Hezbollah ceased its attacks. Trump and Netanyahu have had a strained relationship, though Israel remains a key US ally. Trump previously fumed that Iran and Israel 'don't know what the fuck they're doing' during a 2023 exchange of strikes, and said 'Fuck him' after Netanyahu congratulated Joe Biden on winning the 2020 election.
Trump faces pressure from pro-Israel allies urging a tougher stance on Iran, while others seek a rapid end to the war to mitigate economic damage before US mid-term elections. Netanyahu is also under political pressure, with Israel's parliament backing a bill to dissolve the Knesset and his corruption trial ongoing.
