Netanyahu defies Trump: Israel strikes Beirut, Iran fires back
Part of composite article Iran and US Close to Deal as Israel Pounds Lebanon with Massive Strikes View full article →
Israel’s latest military strikes on Lebanon and Iran have exposed a growing rift between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The two leaders started the war in lockstep, but now they want different things.
Trump had publicly warned Israel not to strike Beirut in its fight against Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. Israel ignored that warning on Sunday. In response, Iran fired ballistic missiles at Israel for the first time since the April ceasefire. Israel then struck Iran, a country with which Trump has been engaged in weeks of diplomatic efforts.