President Donald Trump publicly criticized Israel’s military tactics in Lebanon on Tuesday, urging greater restraint in its strikes against Hezbollah during remarks made on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in France.
Trump said Israel should act more responsibly in its operations targeting the Iran-backed militant group and questioned the practice of striking entire apartment buildings to target individual militants. He described the approach as excessive and warned of the civilian toll.
“Too many people have died. You don’t need to bring down an apartment building every time you’re looking for someone, because there are a lot of people in those buildings, and they’re not all Hezbollah,” Trump said, according to Reuters.
The comments come amid increasingly visible tensions between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While the two leaders are still described as maintaining a cordial relationship, recent developments have exposed growing disagreements over Israel’s military strategy in the region.
Trump’s remarks also reflect a broader diplomatic backdrop, as Washington seeks to finalize a peace agreement with Iran. Escalating Israeli strikes on Beirut have been linked to retaliatory actions involving Iran-backed groups, complicating ongoing negotiations led by the U.S. administration.
Israeli officials have reportedly expressed private frustration over the emerging Iran deal, which they see as undermining their security posture. At the same time, Trump has shown increasing impatience with Netanyahu’s continued military operations in Beirut, which U.S. officials fear could derail diplomatic progress.
Despite the tensions, Trump emphasized his relationship with Netanyahu, while also asserting U.S. leverage over Israel’s security.
“We have a great relationship. Without us, without the U.S., there would be no Israel. Without me, there would be no Israel, because no other president would do what I’ve done,” Trump said.
So far, there has been no indication that Trump’s comments will translate into policy changes or direct pressure on Israel to alter its military tactics.
Israel has faced mounting international criticism over its broader military campaign in Gaza, where the territory’s health ministry says more than 73,000 people have been killed, most of them civilians. Israel has rejected accusations of targeting civilians, arguing that Hamas and Hezbollah operate within populated areas and use human shields.
The Israeli Embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Trump’s remarks.
