US President Donald Trump has attacked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s escalation of the conflict in Lebanon. told Axios two US officials and another source familiar with the conversation.
According to their claims, Trump called Netanyahu “crazy” in a phone conversation and accused him of being ungrateful. The conversation came after Iran threatened earlier in the day to end talks with the US over Israeli military activities in Lebanon. According to one US official, Trump told Netanyahu that his threats to bomb the Lebanese capital would further isolate Israel on the international stage.
Two sources said that during the conversation, Trump reminded Netanyahu that he was to blame for the Israeli prime minister not ending up in prison, alluding to his support during the corruption trial.
“You’re crazy. You’d be in jail if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this,” Trump said, according to one US official.
Clashes continue despite the US plan for a partial ceasefire
Lebanon yesterday announced a partial truce between Hezbollah and Israel, which would represent a limited de-escalation of the conflict that has killed thousands and fueled the wider US-Israeli war with Iran. Reuters reported.
According to Lebanon’s embassy in Washington, the deal will not end the conflict in that country, but calls on Israel to refrain from attacks on Beirut and its suburbs controlled by Hezbollah, while the Iran-linked group will cease its attacks on Israel.
Clashes continued today in southern Lebanon despite Israel and Hezbollah accepting a US plan to implement a partial truce. The US president said he had spoken to both sides and “they have agreed that all firing will cease”, after Iran warned that Israeli military actions in Lebanon were a threat to the current US-Iran truce.
Lebanon said Hezbollah accepted the plan to stop attacks on Israel and for Israel not to attack the Lebanese capital Beirut.
Netanyahu is not giving up attacks on Beirut
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the deal but warned that attacks on Beirut would continue “unless Hezbollah stops attacking our cities and civilians” – adding that the Israeli military would still operate in southern Lebanon.
Hezbollah said it had carried out three attacks overnight on Israeli tanks and soldiers near two villages in northern Israel, using drones and “a barrage of artillery shells”.
The Israeli military said it intercepted two missiles fired from Lebanon. No injuries were reported.
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported Israeli strikes on several southern districts and said a “very violent detonation” rocked the town of Debin.
Netanyahu orders army to move deeper into Lebanon – target for another attack on Hezbollah
