Netanyahu Blocks Lindsey Graham’s Push for US Attack on Hezbollah in Lebanon

Former Republican Senator Lindsey Graham sought to persuade then-US President Donald Trump to join Israel in a military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. According to a Wall Street Journal report based on previously unreleased footage from a documentary filmed before Graham’s death in early 2023, Graham planned to travel to Florida in early March to convince Trump to engage in the conflict. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intervened before Graham’s trip, advising him that involving Washington in a simultaneous war with Iran would be premature and counterproductive.

In a March 4 conversation, Netanyahu told Graham, "We are currently focused on Iran," warning that a full-scale confrontation with Hezbollah could escalate uncontrollably and was not in Israel’s interest at the time. Graham, whose Senate office was reportedly cluttered with Trump memorabilia and bourbon, acknowledged Netanyahu’s advice as "good counsel." During their discussion, Graham also expressed his belief that Israel should normalize relations with Saudi Arabia once the Iranian regime falls, noting bipartisan support for this move. Netanyahu encouraged Graham to prioritize addressing the Iranian threat first.

The documentary’s director, Alex Holder, who filmed these rare exchanges during the height of tensions with Iran, revealed that Trump was enthusiastic about military strikes on Iran, stating, "He loves to blow things up." The footage also shows Graham’s efforts to rally support for a war against Iran, including discussions with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, and various military leaders. Graham was frustrated by internal opposition to escalating the conflict and by what he saw as insufficient Republican backing for the war effort.

Graham’s miscalculations included an overly optimistic prediction to then-National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in March that the war with Iran would last only three to four weeks and quickly lead to Iranian losses. He also expressed disappointment at Trump’s hesitancy following the signing of a preliminary agreement with Iran in June. In the final weeks of his life, Graham appeared fatigued but remained committed to his goals of dismantling the Iranian regime, brokering peace between Russia and Ukraine, and establishing Saudi-Israeli ties by year’s end. Israel’s government did not respond to requests for comment on the report.