A sharp exchange reportedly took place between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a phone call on Monday, as tensions over Israel's military operations in Lebanon spilled into high-level diplomacy.
According to an Axios report, Trump expressed strong dissatisfaction with Israel's recent military actions against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, accusing Netanyahu of damaging Israel's international standing and complicating ongoing diplomatic efforts in the region.
The confrontation came after Iran reportedly warned that it could suspend diplomatic engagement with Washington if military operations in Lebanon continued. Concerned that the escalation could derail broader regional negotiations, Trump intervened directly and questioned Israel's military strategy during the call.
Citing US officials familiar with the conversation, Axios reported that Trump was particularly upset over what he viewed as a disproportionate response to Hezbollah attacks. He reportedly criticized strikes that resulted in the destruction of entire buildings to eliminate individual Hezbollah commanders and objected to increasing threats against Beirut.
One source quoted by Axios said Trump bluntly told Netanyahu that growing international criticism of Israel was becoming a major problem, reflecting mounting concerns within the US administration about the diplomatic fallout from the conflict.
Despite the tense exchange, Netanyahu's office later issued a statement maintaining that Israel's position had not changed. However, US officials described the conversation as one of the most difficult interactions between the two leaders since Trump's return to the White House.
According to Axios, Trump dominated the discussion, pressing Netanyahu to avoid further escalation in Lebanon. One US official described the Israeli leader's response as conciliatory, saying Netanyahu ultimately agreed to address Washington's concerns.
Following the call, Trump took to his social media platform, Truth Social, where he claimed that Netanyahu had agreed to pull back forces after being urged not to launch a major operation in Beirut. Trump suggested that his intervention had helped prevent a broader military escalation.
The episode highlights growing strains between Washington and Tel Aviv at a time when the United States is attempting to maintain multiple diplomatic tracks across the Middle East. While backing Israel's security interests, the Trump administration is also seeking to preserve negotiations with Iran and prevent the Lebanon conflict from expanding into a wider regional crisis.
In a subsequent social media post, Trump said discussions with Iran were continuing at a rapid pace, signaling his determination to keep diplomatic channels open despite rising tensions and disagreements with one of America's closest allies in the region.
