Trump says Beirut strike should not have happened amid near deal with Iran

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Israel’s strike in Beirut’s Dahieh neighborhood should not have taken place, especially on what he called a special day when the United States is close to a peace agreement with Iran. He made the remarks in a post on Truth Social after Israel attacked in the Lebanese capital.

Trump said Israel has the right to defend itself, but argued the attack it was responding to was “very small and insignificant.” He added that no one was killed or wounded, saying the incident should not disrupt what he described as an important diplomatic process.

According to Trump, the U.S. is very close to a deal that would bring peace to the region, including Lebanon, and he urged all sides to show restraint. He said there should be no more Israeli attacks anywhere in Lebanon, and no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel. “This could be the beginning of a long and beautiful peace, let’s not destroy it,” he wrote.

Earlier on Sunday, the IDF struck a Hezbollah infrastructure target in Dahieh. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the strike was carried out in response to fire toward Israeli territory.