|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
President Donald Trump said he urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back Israel’s strikes in Lebanon, as Washington works to preserve a fragile ceasefire with Iran and keep negotiations on track.
“I spoke with Bibi and he’s going to low-key it,” Trump told NBC News, adding that Israel should act “a little more low-key” at this stage.
The comments come as Israeli operations in Lebanon have intensified, with Lebanese authorities reporting more than 200 killed in recent strikes. Israel says the majority were Hezbollah operatives, though civilian casualties have also been documented.
Trump said he remains “very optimistic” about the chances for a longer-term deal with Iran ahead of expected talks in Pakistan, while warning that failure to reach an agreement would be “very painful.”
On Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance clarified that the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran does not apply to Lebanon, pushing back on claims by Iran and Hezbollah.
Speaking in Budapest, Vance said the United States “never made that promise,” emphasizing that the truce is focused on Iran and regional stability, not on Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah.
At the same time, he said Israel has shown some willingness to limit its operations in Lebanon, not as part of any formal agreement but in an effort to support ongoing diplomacy with Iran.
Vance added that Tehran must now take further steps in the talks and warned that Trump retains the option of renewed military action if Iran fails to uphold the arrangement.
In an address Thursday evening, Netanyahu made clear that Israel’s campaign in Lebanon is continuing despite the diplomatic push.
“There is no ceasefire in Lebanon,” he said. “We are continuing to strike Hezbollah with force, and we will not stop until we restore security.”
Netanyahu also revealed that Israel has agreed to open direct negotiations with Lebanon following repeated requests from Beirut, with the aim of securing Hezbollah’s disarmament and pursuing what he described as a historic and lasting peace agreement.
He said Israel’s recent military gains have strengthened its regional position and opened new diplomatic opportunities, adding that he intends to build on previous normalization agreements with additional Arab states.
