President Donald Trump is pressing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back military action in Lebanon, warning that broader strikes risk undermining a fragile ceasefire.
“I told Netanyahu he has got to do it more surgically. Not knock down buildings,” Trump said in a phone interview with Axios. “He can’t do it. It is too terrible and makes Israel look bad.”
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The comments come as the United States attempts to broker an agreement between Israel and Lebanon following a resurgence of fighting earlier this year. Tensions reignited after Hezbollah drew the neighboring countries into conflict in March amid instability caused by U.S. and Israeli operations in Iran.
Trump struck a sympathetic tone toward Lebanon, saying he believes the country “can make a comeback” while blaming its instability on Tehran and its regional proxies.
“Iran ruined Lebanon. Their proxy [Hezbollah] ruined Lebanon,” he said, adding that weakening Iran would ultimately diminish Hezbollah’s power.
Representatives from Israel and Lebanon have held two rounds of diplomatic talks in Washington aimed at stabilizing the border. Following the second meeting, Trump announced a three-week extension of the ceasefire, though it remains unclear whether Hezbollah will adhere to the arrangement.
Despite the ceasefire, the two countries continue to exchange attacks, with Israel launching airstrikes against Hezbollah’s infrastructure on Monday. Under the agreement’s terms, Israel is allowed to use defensive operations.
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Meanwhile, internal divisions within Lebanon threaten to further complicate diplomatic efforts.
Hezbollah Secretary-General Naim Qassem has urged the Lebanese government to halt direct talks with Israel, accusing it of aligning with an adversary. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun pushed back, saying, “Betrayal is carried out by those who take their country to war to serve foreign interests.”
