Fresh exchanges between Israel and Iran have exposed differences between Washington and Jerusalem, with Trump backing diplomacy while Netanyahu defends continued military pressure.
File image of US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (IANS)
A rare public divergence has emerged between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after a fresh round of military exchanges between Israel and Iran threatened to push the region closer to a wider conflict.
The latest flare-up comes at a sensitive moment, with Washington still hoping that diplomatic engagement with Tehran can prevent a broader war. While Trump continues to argue that a negotiated outcome remains within reach, Netanyahu has signalled that Israel is prepared to use military force if it believes its security is under threat.
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Speaking about his recent conversation with Netanyahu, Trump revealed that he had cautioned the Israeli leader against taking steps that could leave Israel increasingly isolated on the world stage.
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“I said, ‘Bibi, you better be careful, or you will be on your own very soon,'” Trump told Axios, underscoring his concern that an expanded military campaign could derail diplomatic efforts and deepen instability across West Asia.
The situation deteriorated rapidly after Israel carried out strikes on Hezbollah-linked targets in Beirut, prompting Iran to fire missiles towards Israel and raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
As per US and Israeli officials cited by Axios, Trump has been attempting to balance support for Israel’s security concerns with growing apprehension that continued retaliation could spiral into an uncontrollable conflict.
The report said Trump urged Netanyahu to show restraint, arguing that progress in diplomatic discussions with Iran could be possible within days.
Despite Washington’s concerns, Israeli officials informed the White House that Israel intended to carry out limited military operations. Subsequent strikes inside Iran prompted another barrage of Iranian missiles towards Israeli territory.
US defence officials said American forces did not participate in the offensive actions but helped Israel track and intercept incoming missiles.
As the situation worsened, Trump reportedly held another call with Netanyahu in an effort to prevent a broader military campaign. Israeli officials told Axios that Netanyahu eventually agreed to suspend further action if Iran also stopped its attacks.
Trump also said several regional governments had approached him urging restraint, while messages conveyed through intermediaries indicated that Iranian officials were prepared to halt hostilities if Israel reciprocated.
In a televised address, Netanyahu defended Israel’s actions, arguing that the country had neutralised what he described as an imminent Iranian nuclear threat and significantly weakened both Iran and Hezbollah during a year-long military campaign.
The Israeli Prime Minister said a pre-emptive operation conducted a year earlier had prevented Tehran from obtaining nuclear weapons and reiterated that Israel would never allow Iran to acquire an atomic bomb.
Netanyahu also accused Hezbollah of planning a large-scale assault on northern Israel involving thousands of fighters and missile attacks. He claimed Israeli forces had disrupted those plans, killed Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah and continued targeting the group’s infrastructure, including underground networks in southern Lebanon.
According to Netanyahu, Iran and Hezbollah have suffered major setbacks while Israel has strengthened its strategic position. However, he maintained that the confrontation is far from over.
He accused Iran and Hezbollah of attempting to create what he called a “new equation” by launching attacks against Israel from both Iranian and Lebanese territory.
Justifying Israel’s latest operations, Netanyahu said Israeli forces targeted Hezbollah positions in Beirut following attacks from Lebanon and struck military and economic sites inside Iran after Iranian missiles were fired at Israel.
He said Israel was temporarily pausing its military operations because Iranian attacks had subsided following the latest strikes. However, he warned that any future aggression from Tehran would invite an “overwhelming force” response.
Reaffirming Israel’s right to self-defence, Netanyahu said he conveyed the same position directly to Trump and pledged that Israel would continue acting to restore security, particularly along its northern border.
The developments have exposed growing differences between Washington and Jerusalem over how to handle the Iran challenge. While Trump continues to argue that diplomacy remains the best path forward, Netanyahu has insisted that a strong military response is necessary to preserve Israel’s deterrence and security.
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