Trump announces fresh Lebanon truce as Netanyahu appears to call off Beirut strikes |
US President Donald Trump indicated on Monday that Washington brokered a fresh truce between Israel and Hezbollah after the one reached in April unravelled in recent days, though the Iran-backed terror group continued to target northern communities into early Tuesday morning and Lebanese media reported fresh IDF strikes.
Following Trump’s announcement, an Israeli source said Jerusalem agreed to postpone planned strikes on Beirut, hours after Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said they instructed the military to strike Hezbollah targets in the capital.
In a series of posts on Truth Social, Trump wrote that he had a “very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no troops going to Beirut, and any troops that are on their way, have already been turned back.”
“He turned his Troops around. Thank you Bibi!” Trump said, describing Israel’s attack plans as “a major raid of Beirut.”
Israeli military sources however said no troops were actually en route to Beirut, contrary to Trump’s claim.
“Likewise — through highly placed representatives — I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop — that Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel,” Trump added, without specifying with whom he spoke, while also claiming Hezbollah consented to not target Israeli troops.
“Let’s see how long that lasts — Hopefully it will be for ETERNITY!”
Prior to a phone call Monday with Netanyahu, Trump told CNBC that he would ask the Israeli premier, “What’s going on with Lebanon?”
Trump reportedly went on to lash out at Netanyahu during the call, calling him “fucking crazy” as he demanded that Israel agree to the ceasefire with Hezbollah.
Axios cited a US official summarizing Trump’s message to Netanyahu as follows: “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.”
While US officials told the news site that Trump was aware Hezbollah has been firing repeatedly at Israel and that Jerusalem has a right to respond, he believes the IDF responded disproportionately in recent days, risking Washington’s efforts to secure a ceasefire extension with Iran — which is conditioning a deal on a truce in Lebanon.
Trump “steamrolled” Netanyahu on the call, and “Bibi said, ‘OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of,’” a US official told Axios.
US officials were also quoted saying that Trump told Netanyahu that he has kept him out of prison, a reference to Trump’s repeated public demand that President Isaac Herzog pardon the prime minister, who is in the midst of a lengthy corruption trial.
Netanyahu’s office did not respond to a request for comment.
Truce terms remain unclear as fighting continues
Washington’s push for a new ceasefire came as the previous ceasefire brokered on April 16 has largely evaporated, with Hezbollah........