Trump Criticises Netanyahu At G7 Over Lebanon Strikes And Civilian Infrastructure Damage
Trump criticises Netanyahu at G7 over Lebanon strikes publicly
US President Donald Trump publicly criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon during a press conference at the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, on Wednesday, in remarks that highlighted rare public friction between the two leaders over the conduct of the ongoing campaign against Hezbollah.
Speaking to reporters, Trump said he maintains respect for Netanyahu, describing him as “a good man” and an “amazing prime minister,” but added that the Israeli leader “gets a little excited sometimes” in the execution of military operations. The comments were made as Trump addressed questions on Middle East security and ongoing regional tensions, with particular focus on the situation along the Israel-Lebanon frontier.
Trump specifically referenced Israel’s strikes in Lebanon, suggesting that military responses should be more restrained. “We have a little dispute over Lebanon. I say, ‘You can do a little softer touch, Bibi. You don’t have to knock down a building every time somebody walks into it that’s from Hezbollah,’” he said. The remark appeared to reflect his view that Israel’s operational approach could be adjusted to reduce escalation risks while still addressing security threats posed by Hezbollah.
Also Read: Trump Declares 'I Am The Boss' At G7 Summit, Joke Sparks Laughter And Goes Viral
Despite his criticism, Trump sought to underline that differences over military tactics did not undermine the broader strategic relationship between Washington and Jerusalem. He described the US-Israel partnership as “an amazing” one and indicated that disagreements of this nature were part of ongoing diplomatic engagement rather than a breakdown in ties. He also suggested that Netanyahu understood the complexity of balancing security objectives with international diplomatic considerations.
The remarks come amid broader diplomatic tensions linked to reported disagreements between Israel and the United States over a memorandum of understanding (MOU) discussed during the summit. According to details referenced in the input, Israel has expressed strong objections to aspects of the agreement, particularly provisions extending a US-Iran ceasefire framework to Lebanon and language emphasising Lebanon’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.
Israeli officials are reported to have argued that such provisions could constrain their operational flexibility against Hezbollah positions, while also raising concerns about how the agreement may affect ongoing security dynamics in the region. The MOU has been described in the input as part of wider efforts aimed at stabilising hostilities involving the United States, Israel and Iran, although specific details of the arrangement remain politically sensitive and contested by various parties.
While the broader US-Iran ceasefire framework is described as still holding, Trump’s remarks underscored emerging differences between Washington and Jerusalem over how the agreement should be interpreted and implemented, particularly in relation to Lebanon. The exchange at the G7 highlights the continuing complexity of managing allied coordination in a volatile regional environment, even as diplomatic channels remain active.
Also Read: Trade And Defence Likely To Dominate PM Modi-Trump Meeting Amid Strengthening India-US Ties
