Donald Trump angrily confronted Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's threats to resume airstrikes on Beirut's southern suburbs, according to a report by Axios. The US president reportedly shouted, “What the fuck are you doing?” during a phone call on Monday, citing a US official who summarised Trump's remarks as: “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 to target Hezbollah, prompting the Israel Defense Forces to tell Lebanese civilians to evacuate. Iran said on Tuesday it would suspend peace talks with the US over Israel's campaign in southern Lebanon, insisting that Lebanon should be covered by a ceasefire agreement meant to facilitate negotiations on the Strait of Hormuz and a US blockade of Iranian ports.
Channel 12, an Israeli news network, contested the details of the call, with chief political analyst Amit Segal saying Trump had not attacked Netanyahu personally and that the two had agreed Netanyahu would refrain from attacking Beirut suburbs if Hezbollah ceased its attacks on Israel. Trump and Netanyahu have had a strained relationship, though Israel remains the US's principal ally in the region.
Trump faces pressure from pro-Israel allies who want a stronger stance against Iran, while others seek a rapid conclusion to the war before the US mid-term elections. Netanyahu is also under political pressure, with Israel's parliament backing a bill to dissolve the Knesset and trigger early elections, and his corruption trial ongoing.
