U.S. President Donald Trump is reportedly running out of patience with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over ongoing military operations in Lebanon.
In what sources have characterised as one of the most tense exchanges between the two leaders since Trump returned to office, Trump is said to have confronted Netanyahu during a telephone conversation on Monday over concerns about Israel's continued military activity in Lebanon, which he fears could derail Iran ceasefire negotiations after Tehran threatened to withdraw from discussions over Israel's conduct.
Following the call, Trump posted on Truth Social that Iran truce talks, which have reportedly included discussions about ending hostilities in Lebanon, were "continuing, at a rapid pace" after suggesting that Israel had halted operations in Beirut.
Trump and Netanyahu have maintained regular contact since launching joint military operations in Iran, which also triggered escalated conflict between Israel and Lebanon's Iran-backed paramilitary political organisation Hezbollah.
Netanyahu announced on Monday that the Israeli military would press ahead with operations in Southern Lebanon following strikes in the outskirts of Beirut in response to Hezbollah launching rockets at northern Israel, including near the mixed city of Haifa.
Official U.S. sources briefed on Monday's telephone call told Axios that a "pissed" Trump turned to personal attacks amid mounting frustration with the Israeli leader. "You're f------ crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your a--," Trump reportedly told Netanyahu on the call, noting his support of the Israeli leader amid his corruption trial, after asking, "What the f--- are you doing?"
Trump reportedly added, "Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this," the U.S. official sources said in summation of the conversation between the two world leaders.
Offering additional insight into the exchange, the source revealed that while Trump grasped Israel's decision to respond to Hezbollah attacks, he believed Israel had pushed its military action too far following civilian casualties and the destruction of buildings while pursuing a Hezbollah commander.
A separate U.S. official source suggested that Trump "steamrolled" Netanyahu during the conversation. The official claims, "Bibi said, 'OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of.'"
Following the call, Netanyahu posted on X that Israel's position "remains unchanged," and that the Israel Defense Forces "will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon... if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and citizens."
Yet an Israeli official told Axios that Netanyahu had abandoned plans to launch strikes against Hezbollah targets in Beirut.
"Tonight, I spoke with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not cease attacking our cities and citizens-Israel will attack terror targets in Beirut. This stance of ours remains unchanged. In parallel, the IDF will continue to operate as planned in southern Lebanon," Netanyahu wrote Monday on X.
Trump described the discussion as "very productive" and suggested that Israel would call off further strikes on Beirut.
"I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back," Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social.
"Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop - That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel."
He subsequently added regarding the purported agreement, "Let's see how long that lasts - Hopefully it will be for ETERNITY!"
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