TRUMP has cautioned Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back Israel’s blitz of Lebanon in a bid to preserve the US-Iran peace deal.
It comes as the Israeli PM said he is ready to hold direct talks with Lebanon, after unleashing the on the stronghold on Wednesday.
United States President Donald Trump told Israel to ‘low-key’ its blitz of LebanonCredit: Getty
A fireball erupts from the site of an Israeli airstrike in BeirutCredit: AFP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has told his cabinet to begin direct talks with LebanonCredit: AFP
“I spoke with Bibi and he’s going to low-key it. I just think we have to be sort of a little more low-key,” the US president told NBC News.
US Vice President JD Vance also claimed yesterday that Israel had agreed to “check itself” in Lebanon.
Israeli strikes on Lebanon killed more than 300 people on Wednesday.
But on Thursday night Netanyahu told his cabinet to begin direct talks with Lebanon “as soon as possible”.
He said the talks came after “repeated calls” from Lebanon, adding that they focus on “disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon”.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun had said that the “only solution” is a ceasefire and “direct negotiations” with Israel.
The US previously
But a senior Iranian official declared: “Iran will punish Israel for its aggression against Lebanon and violations of the ceasefire”.
Iran, for decades, has used proxy Islamic militant groups, such as Hezbollah, to attack US and Israeli assets in the Middle East.
US and Iranian delegations are set to begin negotiations in Pakistan tomorrow, with Trump saying he is “very optimistic” a deal can be reached.
Trump insists that Iran’s leaders “talk much differently when you’re at a meeting than they do to the press”, saying “they’re much more reasonable.”
“They’re agreeing to all the things that they have to agree to. Remember, they’ve been conquered. They have no military,” Trump said.
Adding: “If they don’t make a deal, it’s going to be very painful.”
The US President thrashed out a peace deal with Tehran in the 11th hour on Tuesday night.
The two-week ceasefire was contingent on the Strait of Hormuz being reopened by Tehran, off by the rogue nation.
A source in the Iranian Navy confirmed the Strait’s closure, telling state media “only two tankers were able to benefit from the ceasefire and pass through the Strait of Hormuz before ‘Israel’ violated the agreement”.
It comes as after “unhelpful” Nato nations failed to secure the vital shipping route.
The US president has discussed the plan with his advisers, senior White House officials said on Thursday.
The proposal, which is still in “conception”, would fall short of Trump’s recent threats to completely withdraw from the alliance.
The US currently has more than 80,000 troops in Europe and has played a central role in Europe’s security since World War Two.
It remains unclear what nations could be on Trump’s chopping block but he has shared fiery exchanges with leaders such as and in recent weeks.
The on the alliance, which now appears to be on the brink.
Trump spent weeks asking for Nato warships to be sent to the Strait of Hormuz to help reopen the vital trade waterway after Iran blocked it off.
, telling fuel-starved members to “get your own oil” from the Strait.
The reopening of the Strait of Hormuz remains a top priority for all nations who rely on the global trade route for goods such as oil.
On Wednesday Israel unleashed its largest blitz on Lebanon since the start of the warCredit: AFP
Eze Chidiebere Paul
I'm dedicated to creating high-quality content that informs, inspires, and delights. If you have any questions or suggestions, don't hesitate to get in touch. Happy reading!
