A planned Israeli military operation targeting Hezbollah positions in Beirut was reportedly called off after a tense and unusually confrontational phone conversation between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, according to multiple international media reports.
The disagreement emerged at a critical moment in the Middle East, as Washington seeks to prevent the Lebanon conflict from expanding further and jeopardizing ongoing diplomatic engagement with Iran. Reports indicate that Trump was deeply concerned that a major Israeli strike on Beirut could trigger a broader regional crisis and undermine fragile negotiations involving Tehran.
According to sources familiar with the conversation, Trump strongly objected to Israel’s plans for further escalation in Lebanon. During the call, he reportedly expressed frustration over Israel’s military actions and warned that continued attacks risked isolating Israel internationally. One source quoted Trump as telling Netanyahu, “Everybody hates Israel because of this,” while urging restraint and de-escalation.
The dispute came after Israel threatened to strike Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs following repeated rocket and drone attacks from the Iran-backed group. Netanyahu had earlier indicated that Israel was prepared to expand military operations if Hezbollah continued its attacks on northern Israel.
However, following Trump’s intervention, Israeli officials reportedly decided to shelve plans for a major operation in Beirut. Trump later claimed that Netanyahu had agreed to pull back forces that were preparing for the mission and that any troops moving toward Beirut had been ordered to turn around.
In a social media statement after the call, Trump described the conversation with Netanyahu as “very productive” and suggested that diplomatic efforts had prevented a dangerous escalation. He also said that indirect contacts had helped secure commitments aimed at reducing hostilities between Israel and Hezbollah.
The development coincided with reports that Hezbollah had signaled a willingness to suspend attacks if Israel refrained from targeting Beirut and its surrounding areas. Lebanese officials welcomed the proposed arrangement, although clashes and sporadic exchanges of fire continued in southern Lebanon.
Despite the apparent pause, differences between Washington and Jerusalem remain visible. Netanyahu later reiterated that Israel reserved the right to act against threats emanating from Lebanon and warned that further Hezbollah attacks would provoke a military response. Israeli leaders continue to argue that the country must maintain freedom of action against groups they view as security threats.
The episode highlights growing strains in the relationship between Trump and Netanyahu, particularly over how to handle the Lebanon front while broader negotiations involving Iran remain underway. Analysts say the US administration is increasingly focused on preventing additional conflicts from complicating its regional diplomatic agenda.
For now, the immediate threat of a major Israeli assault on Beirut appears to have been averted. However, with Hezbollah and Israeli forces continuing to exchange fire and regional tensions still running high, the situation remains volatile and could shift rapidly in the coming days.