Trump’s Warning Ignored? Israel Launches Fresh Assault on Lebanon Amid Ceasefire Hopes
By Passman Akpos
Tensions in the Middle East escalated again on Wednesday as Israeli forces reportedly carried out fresh airstrikes in southern Lebanon, despite growing international concern and a rare public criticism of Israel’s actions by U.S. President Donald Trump.
According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA), Israeli warplanes targeted the Nabatieh al-Fawqa area and the outskirts of Kfar Tebnit in southern Lebanon. While the Israeli military had not officially commented on the latest strikes, it has consistently maintained that its operations are aimed at weakening the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah.
The attacks come just days after a U.S.-Iran agreement aimed at ending regional hostilities was announced, with reports indicating that Lebanon is among the issues addressed in the deal. However, the full contents of the agreement remain undisclosed.
Speaking during the G7 summit in France, President Trump openly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exercise greater restraint.
“Netanyahu needs to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon,” Trump said, expressing concern over the prolonged conflict. He added that Israel had been fighting Hezbollah for “too long” and that “too many people are being killed.”
Trump also revealed his dissatisfaction with a recent Israeli strike, saying, “I didn’t like that he did an attack… that was too much,” despite emphasizing that he maintains a strong relationship with the Israeli leader.
The latest developments underscore the fragile nature of the emerging U.S.-Iran understanding. Since the agreement was announced on Sunday, both Israel and Hezbollah have continued exchanging attacks, raising fears that the ceasefire efforts could unravel before being formally finalized.
On Sunday, an Israeli airstrike on Beirut, launched in response to a Hezbollah rocket attack, complicated ongoing diplomatic efforts to secure broader regional stability.
Meanwhile, Netanyahu has remained defiant, declaring on Monday that Israeli troops would stay in Lebanon “for as long as necessary” to ensure national security.
Iran has responded sharply to Israel’s continued military operations. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that Tehran would consider any further Israeli attacks on Lebanon, or the continued presence of Israeli forces on Lebanese territory, a violation of the interim agreement reached with Washington.
The proposed U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding is expected to be formally signed later this week in the Swiss resort town of Bürgenstock. According to reports, President Trump intends to publicly present the agreement and highlight its provisions, including commitments designed to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and to restore unrestricted navigation through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
Trump has repeatedly argued that the new arrangement is superior to the 2015 nuclear accord negotiated under former President Barack Obama. He criticized the earlier deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), claiming it provided Iran with billions of dollars in sanctions relief.
As diplomatic negotiations continue, the renewed violence in Lebanon threatens to undermine efforts to secure a broader regional peace, leaving observers questioning whether the latest agreement can withstand mounting military and political pressures.
