Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked U.S. military expert John Spencer after Spencer defended Israel’s wartime conduct. Spencer, a former U.S. Army officer and head of urban warfare studies at West Point’s Modern War Institute, said the facts show Israel is taking extensive steps to limit civilian harm in Lebanon and Gaza, despite growing criticism over the Lebanon fighting.
Spencer wrote that “the reality is very different from the rhetoric.” He said the IDF uses warnings before strikes through text messages, phone calls, voice messages, leaflets, radio, television and social media, and also relies on special civilian-harm mitigation units, drone surveillance, mobile data and other intelligence. He added that legal review and proportionality checks are built into the process at even low tactical levels, with lawyers able to override commanders, something he said is rare in other militaries.
Regarding Lebanon and Beirut, Spencer said the warnings have been especially effective because civilians can move away from battle zones. He said Israel has repeatedly identified specific buildings and strike times, and that journalists and locals trust the alerts enough to set up cameras before attacks. He also said Israel uses precision munitions and smaller warheads, especially when targeting Hezbollah leaders, command centers or military sites in dense areas such as Beirut’s Dahieh district.
Spencer said there is no comparison between Israel and Hezbollah. “Israel does not target civilians,” he wrote, while describing Hezbollah as a terrorist organization whose strategy includes deliberate attacks on civilians. He said Hezbollah launches rockets, missiles and drones at northern Israeli communities with the intent to hit homes, schools, businesses and infrastructure. Netanyahu then posted, “Thank you Spencer. No army takes more steps to reduce civilian casualties than the IDF, and no country suffers more false propaganda than Israel. Truth and Israel will prevail.”
British broadcaster Piers Morgan called Netanyahu’s praise “complete nonsense,” prompting Spencer to explain that his views are based on hundreds of interviews, including with Netanyahu, the defense minister, the strategic affairs minister, two IDF chiefs of staff, senior General Staff officers, legal officials and combat commanders. Spencer also said that since October 7 he has made six research trips inside Gaza and accompanied troops in Gaza City, Rafah, Khan Younis, the Netzarim Corridor and locations in southern Lebanon. A separate X clash then erupted between conservative commentator Mark Levin and Morgan over Israel, Gaza and social media attacks.
