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 the phone call on Monday.
A US official summarised Trump's remarks to Netanyahu 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 report has been contested by Israeli media.
The call came after Netanyahu ordered the Israeli military to resume bombing the Dahiya area of Beirut to target Hezbollah, prompting thousands of Lebanese civilians to flee. Iran announced 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.
Channel 12, an Israeli news network, disputed the details, 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 on Israel.
Trump and Netanyahu have had a strained relationship previously, though Israel remains the US's principal ally in the region. Trump faces pressure from pro-Israel allies and those seeking a rapid end to the conflict before the US mid-term elections.
