Trump Rebukes Netanyahu Over Lebanon Strikes During G7 Summit

During the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, Donald Trump issued a public rebuke of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, criticizing the scale and duration of Israel's military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Trump described recent airstrikes in Beirut as vicious, specifically condemning the tactic of destroying entire apartment buildings to target individual militants. He urged Netanyahu to be more responsible, stating that too many civilians have been killed in a conflict that has lasted too long.

Trump suggested that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa would be more effective at neutralizing Hezbollah if Israel could not do so without excessive casualties. While Trump praised al-Sharaa's leadership, the Syrian president denied reports that his forces would enter Lebanon, calling such claims unfounded. These tensions emerged as Trump sought to finalize a peace agreement with Iran, scheduled for signing this Friday in Switzerland. Trump expressed concern that Israeli actions could jeopardize this diplomatic deal, which follows a preliminary agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

In response, the Israeli government maintained that its forces target only terrorists and will not withdraw from southern Lebanon. Israeli officials expressed frustration with the U.S.-Iran agreement, asserting that the deal does not bind their security operations. Despite the rift, the White House defended Trump's relationship with Netanyahu and praised the Israel Defense Forces as incredible partners. Trump reiterated that Israel's existence depends on U.S. support, while announcing a forthcoming visit from the Lebanese president to the United States to address regional instability.