Amid rising tensions between Washington and Tel Aviv, U.S. President Donald Trump stated that Israel could have been crushed had it not been for his intervention.
Trump also emphasized today in remarks to Axios that his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains very strong.
However, he added that Netanyahu must ensure adherence to common sense.
"Halting Attacks on Lebanon"
Furthermore, Trump claimed he is capable of preventing Israel from attacking Lebanon, highlighting that the Israelis respect him and heed his directives.
Yesterday, the U.S. president suggested that Netanyahu should act with discretion, responding to ongoing strikes on southern Lebanon despite a U.S.-brokered memorandum of understanding with Iran, signed late Wednesday, which called for halting all hostilities, including in Lebanon.
Trump also described the memorandum as essentially "an unconditional Iranian surrender," defending the agreement that sparked widespread debate both within the U.S. and internationally, particularly concerning which side gained more.
These comments came after several of Netanyahu's ministers harshly criticized the initial Iranian-American accord, prompting U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to strongly counter their criticisms, urging Israel to remember that Washington is its sole ally worldwide.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yisrael Katz asserted that Israeli forces would not withdraw from so-called "security zones" in southern Lebanon, potentially posing a challenge to the Iranian-American understanding.