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US President Donald Trump reportedly clashed with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's military actions in Lebanon, with multiple reports citing a phone call in which Trump yelled at Netanyahu. However, an Israeli source has disputed that Trump personally insulted Netanyahu, saying the disagreement focused on public messaging after the call.
The reports, which drew on Axios and other outlets, described Trump as angry over Israel's planned strikes on Beirut's southern suburbs. One article quoted Trump as saying on a podcast that he was "a little bit perturbed" at Netanyahu's "constantly fighting with Lebanon," though he added that he likes Netanyahu "a lot" and works "very well with him."
Coverage Comparison
Coverage of the phone call varied across outlets. ABC Australia reported that Trump intervened in Israel's plans to launch strikes on Beirut, yelling at Netanyahu over Israel's escalation in Lebanon. The BBC noted that Trump reportedly clashed with Netanyahu and highlighted Netanyahu's history of testing the White House's patience. The Guardian described the call as a confrontation, with Trump shouting "What the fuck are you doing?" at Netanyahu.
The Jerusalem Post, citing an Israeli source, disputed that Trump personally insulted Netanyahu, saying the disagreement centered on public messaging after the call. The source said, "Trump did not get into personal insults with Netanyahu," adding that the tense exchange focused on "the statements by each side" after the conversation.
TASS reported Trump saying he was "not happy" about Israel's strikes against Beirut, and separately noted that Israel notified the US military about a strike on Beirut shortly before it took place.
Key Claims
The Guardian reported that Trump confronted Netanyahu over Israel's threats to resume airstrikes on Beirut, citing a US official who summarized 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 had ordered the Israeli military to resume bombing the southern Dahiya area of Beirut to target Hezbollah, leading to evacuation orders and thousands fleeing.
Iran said on Tuesday that it would suspend peace talks with the US over Israel's ongoing campaign in southern Lebanon, according to The Guardian. Tehran insisted Lebanon should be covered by a ceasefire agreement meant to facilitate negotiations to open the Strait of Hormuz and lift a US blockade of Iranian ports.
Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, saying there will be no troops going to Beirut, and that Hezbollah had agreed to stop shooting, with Israel agreeing not to attack them.
TASS reported that Israel notified the US military about a strike on Beirut shortly before it took place, citing Axios and Israel's Channel 12 correspondent Barak Ravid. The Israel Defense Forces said it had delivered a strike on a Hezbollah office in Beirut's Dahieh neighborhood in response to a shelling attack on Israeli territory.
Perspectives
Israeli source: An Israeli source familiar with the details disputed that Trump personally insulted Netanyahu, saying the disagreement focused on public messaging after the call and that Trump did not get into personal insults.
Netanyahu: Netanyahu laughed off suggestions of tensions with his American ally, telling CNBC that "sometimes we have, as in the best of families, you have these tactical disagreements," and that the two can "disagree in the morning" and be in agreement by afternoon.
US officials: US officials cited by The Guardian described the call as one of Trump's worst with Netanyahu since the start of his second term, with Trump feeling that Netanyahu was reacting disproportionately to Hezbollah's attacks.
Channel 12: Channel 12, an Israeli news network, contested the details of the call. Chief political analyst Amit Segal said Trump had not attacked Netanyahu personally and that the two had agreed that he would refrain from attacking the Beirut suburbs if Hezbollah ceased its attacks on Israel.