Washington, June 2: President Donald Trump announced that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu halted a military operation in Beirut following his direct appeal. Trump also claimed that Hezbollah agreed to cease attacks on Israel.
These statements were made in two posts on social media as tensions escalated between Israel and the Iran-backed Lebanese group Hezbollah. Concerns were rising that this conflict could destabilize the region and impact U.S. diplomatic efforts with Iran.
On his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump wrote, “I spoke with Netanyahu. I told him not to launch a major military attack in Beirut. He pulled back his troops. Thank you, Bibi!”
In a previous post, Trump stated, “No soldiers will go to Beirut,” adding that Israeli troops heading there had already been called back.
He mentioned that he had communicated with representatives of Hezbollah’s leadership through intermediaries.
Trump noted, “I also spoke with representatives of Hezbollah leadership, and they agreed to stop firing at Israel and its soldiers. Likewise, Israel agreed to cease fire.”
He added, “Let’s see how long this arrangement lasts; hopefully, forever!”
These remarks came amid heightened tensions regarding Lebanon, with fears that a large-scale conflict could reignite between Israel and Hezbollah, potentially spreading violence throughout the region.
According to The Wall Street Journal, Trump was attempting to de-escalate the Israel-Hezbollah confrontation, viewing it as a significant obstacle to ongoing diplomatic talks with Iran. The report indicated that Trump spoke directly with Netanyahu to prevent further escalation.
However, The New York Times later reported that Netanyahu adopted a more cautious stance, asserting that Israel would continue its military operations in southern Lebanon. He warned that if Hezbollah targeted Israeli cities and civilians, attacks could resume.
The report also mentioned that Lebanese officials were informed of a U.S.-backed proposal, which would see Hezbollah cease attacks while Israel would refrain from expanding its military operations around Beirut.
Fox News reported that Trump persuaded Netanyahu to cancel the attack on Beirut, leading to the withdrawal of Israeli troops after their discussions.
Meanwhile, The Washington Post noted that Iranian officials expressed growing frustration with ongoing talks with Washington following Israeli military actions in Lebanon and recent U.S. strikes.
However, neither Israel nor Hezbollah immediately confirmed the agreement outlined by Trump. It remained unclear whether a formal ceasefire had been established.
These developments come as the Trump administration seeks to prevent a major war in the Middle East while advancing negotiations with Tehran on regional security issues and Iran’s nuclear program.
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