President Donald Trump issued a rare public rebuke of Israel's military tactics in Lebanon, stating that bombing entire apartment buildings to target Hezbollah militants is unnecessary and leads to excessive civilian deaths.
Speaking at the G7 summit in France, Trump expressed displeasure over recent Israeli attacks in Beirut, which he believes jeopardized his peace deal with Iran. He remarked, "Too many people have been killed. You don't have to knock down an apartment house every time you're looking for somebody, because there are a lot of people in those apartment houses, and they're not all Hezbollah."
This criticism surfaces amid rising tensions between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. While Trump acknowledged a strong relationship with Netanyahu, he urged the Israeli leader to be "more responsible" in his actions in Lebanon. Trump emphasized the United States' critical role in Israel's existence, stating, "Without us, without the United States, there would be no Israel. Without me, there would be no Israel, because no other president was willing to do what I did."
The divergence in views reflects ongoing disagreements over Israel's pursuit of Hezbollah, a key demand of Iran for a cessation of hostilities. Unlike typical presidential practice, Trump's direct criticism of Israeli military tactics is noteworthy. A White House official later stated that Trump has been a strong supporter of Israel and that the Israel Defense Forces are "incredible partners."
Despite Trump's remarks, there is no indication that his comments will lead to a significant policy shift compelling Israel to alter its military operations to ensure greater civilian protection. Israel has previously faced international criticism regarding civilian casualties, particularly during operations in Gaza. Israeli officials maintain that they do not target non-combatants and that militant groups often use civilians as human shields.
