Netanyahu-Trump Divisions on Iran War Threaten to Box In US
As Israel continues to strike Lebanon and Iran leverages the Strait of Hormuz, the shaky ceasefire deal is at risk from political fault lines that helped shape the conflict.
A building destroyed in Beirut on April 9.
Photographer: Emilio Morenatti/APYears of lobbying by Israel’s Benjamin Netanyahu paid off when Donald Trump decided to go to war with Iran. Now, as the US president tries to extricate himself from the conflict, the fault lines in one of his closest geopolitical relationships threaten to box him in.
Within hours of Trump’s announcement of a two-week ceasefire Tuesday, the Israeli prime minister was challenging its terms. His forces mounted their biggest attack of their latest invasion of Lebanon, killing hundreds and prompting Tehran to warn that the deal was at risk even before the first direct talks took place. A call from Trump led Netanyahu to agree to scale back the operation, according to the US president. Israeli forces continued strikes at a reduced level there Friday, exchanging fire with Hezbollah a day after the Israeli leader agreed to talks with Lebanese officials.