U.S. Presses Iran to Hold Back After Israeli Strike in Beirut

The United States is applying intense pressure on Iran to avoid a military response against Israel after an Israeli strike on Sunday in Beirut’s Dahieh district. Washington fears an Iranian attack could reignite direct fighting and derail an emerging U.S.-Iran understanding that officials expected to be signed within hours. Israel’s strike followed a Hezbollah launch of several drones toward communities in northern Israel.

According to the IDF, the Israeli Air Force hit a Hezbollah headquarters in the heart of Dahieh that was being used to advance terror attacks against Israeli civilians and IDF forces in southern Lebanon. An Israeli military source said a Hezbollah commander was killed and four other people were wounded. Lebanese reports said three people were killed. A report by Axios said Israel notified U.S. Central Command shortly before the strike, but it was unclear whether the White House approved it.

The timing was especially sensitive because the attack came just hours before the moment President Donald Trump said Washington and Tehran were due to sign a memorandum of understanding. Tehran responded sharply. Mohammad Jafar Asadi, deputy commander of the armed forces emergency headquarters, said the strike in Beirut “will not go unanswered.” Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran’s chief negotiator and speaker of parliament, accused the U.S. of lacking the will or ability to honor its commitments and restrain Israel.

In response to the threats, the U.S. administration sent Tehran a clear message to show restraint and not retaliate. Trump also issued an unusual public criticism of Israel, saying the Beirut strike “should not have happened” so close to an agreement. He wrote that Israel can defend itself, but the attack it was answering was “small and not significant,” adding that no one was hurt and it should not derail the process. Trump said there should be no further Israeli strikes in Lebanon, while Hezbollah must also stop firing at Israel. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the signing was a matter of “when, not if,” and stressed that Iran also bears responsibility for containing Hezbollah. Israel is nonetheless preparing for the possibility that U.S. pressure will fail, with IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir holding ongoing assessments and the military warning of possible fire toward Israeli territory in the coming hours.