Donald Trump Claims Direct Control Over Israeli Military Operations

Donald Trump claims he maintained direct influence and veto power over Israeli military operations against Islamic terror groups, including during the previous administration. In an interview with Time magazine, he stated that the September 2024 operation using exploding pagers against Hezbollah was conducted with his direct involvement and that Israel informed him of all operations and respected his directives to stop certain actions.

This coordination formed part of a broader three-pronged strategy to stabilize the Middle East. Trump directed U.S. military action against Iranian nuclear facilities through Operation Midnight Hammer and Operation Rising Lion in June 2025. He argues these strikes were essential precursors to the cease-fire agreement between Israel and Hamas, which was formally implemented on October 10, 2025, after the release of the final 20 Israeli hostages.

The strategy also combined military support for Israel's campaigns against Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis with massive economic packages totaling nearly $2 trillion for Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth further announced a new Qatari military installation in the United States. While Arab states have agreed to rebuild Gaza, Hamas continues to refuse to disarm and is reportedly conducting public executions of Palestinians.