Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have stated that Israeli forces will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, with Katz explicitly rejecting any potential American demands for withdrawal. The stance is complicating ongoing Iran peace negotiations.
Israel and Hezbollah agreed to halt fighting in southern Lebanon following deadly Israeli strikes that forced cancellation of U.S.-Iran peace implementation talks. The escalation threatened to derail a tentative interim peace agreement between Washington and Tehran.
President Donald Trump criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the G7 summit in France, urging him to use a 'softer touch' in Lebanon and be 'more responsible' with military operations against Hezbollah. The rebuke comes as Trump pursues a peace agreement with Iran, with the White House confirming he has signed an initial memorandum of understanding with Tehran.
President Trump is planning to ask US defense companies to produce weapons under license in Europe and Ukraine, with G7 allies agreeing to allow Ukraine-based companies to build long-range missiles and air defense systems. The move comes as Trump invokes the Defense Production Act to boost weapons manufacturing amid intensifying concerns over the Iran conflict.
A tentative agreement between the United States and Iran to end their conflict includes provisions requiring Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon, sparking domestic opposition in Israel where officials vow the IDF will remain despite the Trump-brokered terms.
President Trump reached a deal with Iran to end Middle East conflict, sparking tensions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's refusal to halt attacks on Hezbollah in Lebanon. The agreement has drawn widespread anger in Israel and criticism from Trump, who reportedly said Netanyahu has 'no f—ing judgement.'
President Donald Trump told the Financial Times that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will have "no choice" but to accept a US-Iran deal, even as Israel conducted strikes on Iran. Trump urged Netanyahu not to retaliate for Iranian strikes and said Tehran's attacks would not impact ongoing US-Iran negotiations.
Israel established a clandestine military outpost in Iraq's western desert to support its air operations against Iran and conducted airstrikes against Iraqi troops who nearly discovered the facility, according to a Wall Street Journal report citing U.S. officials and people familiar with the matter.
