Trump-Netanyahu split? Conflicting accounts of Israel's Lebanon operation emerge after 'heated' phone call

A dramatic public rift appeared to open between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday. Trump announced a unilateral ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah while Netanyahu swiftly issued a statement vowing to strike Beirut if attacks on northern Israel continue.Trump claimed on Truth Social that he had a "very productive call" with Netanyahu, and that "there will be no troops going to Beirut, and any troops that are on their way, have already been turned back.""He turned his troops around. Thank you Bibi!" Trump wrote, describing Israel's planned operation as "a major raid of Beirut."Trump also asserted that he had spoken with representatives of Hezbollah and that the Iran-backed group had agreed to a cessation of hostilities.

"They agreed that all shooting will stop — that Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel," he wrote.However, approximately two hours after Trump's announcement, Netanyahu issued a statement in Hebrew that appeared to directly contradict the US president's version of events."I spoke this evening with President Trump and told him that if Hezbollah does not stop attacking our cities and civilians, Israel will strike terrorist targets in Beirut.

This position remains unchanged," Netanyahu said."At the same time, the IDF will continue operating in southern Lebanon as planned," he added.An Israeli source told Ynet that Israel had postponed planned strikes on Beirut at Washington's request, as the US worked to advance the ceasefire initiative. However, Israeli military sources told The Times of Israel that no troops were actually en route to Beirut, contrary to Trump's claim.Axios reported, citing a US official, that Trump lashed out at Netanyahu during their phone call, telling the Israeli leader: "You're f****** crazy. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your a**. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this."Trump reportedly "steamrolled" Netanyahu on the call, and the prime minister eventually responded: "OK, OK, just make sure everything is taken care of."

Internal Israeli condemnation

The decision drew sharp criticism from within Israel's political establishment. National security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly urged Netanyahu to tell "no" to Trump and continue striking Hezbollah."You said that a strong prime minister tells the President of the United States—'yes' when possible, and 'no'—when necessary. This is the time to tell our friend, President Trump—'no'. Now is the time to do what is required and necessary to strike Hezbollah, to unleash the hands of our fighters, and to restore security to the north," Ben-Gvir wrote on X.Former IDF chief of staff and Yashar! Party leader Gadi Eisenkot called Trump's directive "a humiliating demand, one that is blatantly unreasonable," adding that Netanyahu "is the man who preached morals to everyone about the basic need to be a prime minister and know how to say 'no' to the President of the United States."Opposition leader Yair Lapid accused Netanyahu of behaving as though Israel were a protectorate state of the US, calling for a "powerful response" to Hezbollah's rocket fire.

Iran talks at risk

US officials told Axios that while Trump acknowledged Hezbollah's attacks on Israel and Israel's right to respond, he believed the IDF's response in recent days had been disproportionate and risked derailing Washington's broader ceasefire efforts with Iran, which Tehran has conditioned on a truce in Lebanon.Despite Trump's announcement of a ceasefire, Hezbollah continued to attack northern Israel into the early hours of Tuesday.

Sirens sounded in the border community of Metula after a rocket struck near Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon. Rockets were also intercepted over Safed, and a Hezbollah drone struck a military post near the border.Lebanese media reported several Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon following Trump's announcement.The diplomatic confusion came as Iran announced it had suspended negotiations with the United States following Israeli strikes in Lebanon.

Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araqchi warned on X: "The ceasefire between Iran and the US is unequivocally a ceasefire on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Its violation on one front is a violation of the ceasefire on all fronts. The US and Israel are responsible for the consequences of any violation.

"Iranian outlets reported that Tehran had frozen active diplomatic engagements with Washington as a direct reaction to the military campaign in Lebanon.Trump, however, offered conflicting accounts of the status of Iran talks. Earlier on Monday, he told NBC News that Washington had not been formally informed of Iran's decision to suspend negotiations. "I think it's fine if they're done talking," he said, adding that Tehran had not officially conveyed such a decision to the US.Minutes later, Trump posted on Truth Social: "Talks are continuing, at a rapid pace, with the Islamic Republic of Iran."