Donald Trump has delivered one of his sharpest public criticisms yet of Benjamin Netanyahu’s war strategy in Lebanon, saying the Israeli prime minister must be “more responsible” as strikes against Hezbollah continue to raise fears of wider regional fallout.
Speaking during the G7 summit in France, Trump questioned Israel’s tactics and suggested the campaign had dragged on for too long. He argued Israel should not be destroying entire apartment buildings while targeting Hezbollah members, saying too many people were being killed in the process. The remarks mark a significant moment because Trump has long positioned himself as one of Israel’s strongest allies, yet he is now openly warning Netanyahu that Israel’s actions in Lebanon could damage broader U.S. diplomatic efforts in the region.
Trump went even further by suggesting Syria could be asked to deal with Hezbollah if Israel cannot do so without large-scale civilian harm. That comment adds another layer of controversy, given Syria’s own unstable political landscape and its complicated history in Lebanon.
For Netanyahu, this is a dangerous shift. The pressure is no longer only coming from international critics or regional rivals. It is now coming directly from Washington. Trump may still claim to support Israel, but his message to Netanyahu is clear: the Lebanon campaign is becoming a liability, and the U.S. does not want it derailing the wider Iran deal.