Tensions between President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly boiled over this week after Israel threatened to resume airstrikes in Beirut, raising new questions about the strength of the alliance between the two leaders.
According to a report from Axios, Trump angrily confronted Netanyahu during a phone call on Monday after Israel signaled it was preparing to renew attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs, an area known as Dahiya that is considered a stronghold of the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.
Axios, citing a U.S. official familiar with the conversation, reported that Trump shouted profanities at Netanyahu and expressed frustration over Israel’s military actions. The report claimed Trump warned that renewed bombing efforts could further damage Israel’s international standing and complicate ongoing diplomatic efforts in the region.
The reported exchange came after the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings for parts of southern Beirut ahead of planned strikes targeting Hezbollah infrastructure. The warnings prompted thousands of Lebanese civilians to flee the area.
The situation quickly drew a response from Iran, which announced Tuesday that it was suspending peace negotiations with the United States. Iranian officials argued that Lebanon should be included in a broader ceasefire framework that had been intended to support talks aimed at easing tensions in the Persian Gulf, reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and reducing restrictions on Iranian ports.
Iran’s decision threatens to derail negotiations that Trump had recently suggested were close to producing a preliminary agreement. Just days earlier, the president had said negotiators had reached a potential deal that he was reviewing.
However, Israeli media have disputed parts of the Axios report. Israeli Channel 12 political analyst Amit Segal said the conversation between Trump and Netanyahu was less confrontational than described. According to Segal, the two leaders ultimately reached an understanding under which Israel would avoid striking Beirut’s suburbs as long as Hezbollah halted attacks against Israel.
The reported dispute highlights the complicated relationship between Trump and Netanyahu. While Israel remains America’s closest ally in the Middle East, the two leaders have experienced tensions in the past despite generally aligning on regional security issues.
Earlier this year, the United States and Israel conducted joint military operations against Iran following escalating hostilities. But Trump has also publicly expressed frustration with both Israel and Iran during previous conflicts, criticizing the actions of both sides during periods of intense fighting.
Political pressures at home may also be influencing both leaders. Trump faces competing demands from Republicans, with some urging a tougher stance against Iran while others want a swift end to regional conflicts to avoid economic fallout ahead of the November midterm elections.
Netanyahu is dealing with challenges of his own. Israel’s parliament recently advanced legislation that could dissolve the Knesset and trigger early elections. At the same time, his long-running corruption trial is expected to continue after several delays related to national security concerns.
As fighting between Israel and Hezbollah threatens to widen and diplomatic efforts with Iran stall, the reported clash between Trump and Netanyahu underscores the growing difficulties facing leaders attempting to balance military action with regional diplomacy.
