Trump-Netanyahu Call Reportedly Spirals Over Planned Beirut Strike

Israeli political sources told Channel 13 on Tuesday night that a call between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was one of the most difficult and tense since Trump took office. The dispute centered on Israel’s threat to strike Beirut’s Dahieh district. According to Axios, Trump sharply attacked Netanyahu, called him “crazy,” accused him of ingratitude, and warned that a Beirut operation would further isolate Israel internationally. One source said Trump shouted, “What the hell are you doing?”

Despite that account, Trump later wrote on Truth that he had a “very good” conversation with Netanyahu and that, as a result, no troops would be sent to Beirut. He also said he had a “very good” call with Hezbollah, which agreed to stop firing under a mutual commitment to halt attacks. Netanyahu confirmed the Beirut strike had been canceled, but said if Hezbollah keeps attacking Israeli cities and civilians, Israel will strike terror targets in Beirut, while the IDF will continue operating in southern Lebanon.

The episode drew sharp criticism in Israel. Opposition leader Yair Lapid called Israel a “full protectorate state,” and former prime minister Naftali Bennett said the government had “lost control of Israel’s sovereignty.”