Trump lashes out at Netanyahu over Lebanon strikes – Report

US President Donald Trump reportedly berated Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a heated phone call over Israel’s escalation in Lebanon.

Israeli military aggression is seen as jeopardising the ongoing peace talks with Iran to end the Middle East conflict.

Citing US officials and another source on the call, Axios said the US leader called Netanyahu “crazy” and accused him of ingratitude,

According to the US news publication, Trump has also directed Israel not to strike Beirut.

Trump also told the Israeli leader that the Tel Aviv threats to bomb the Lebanese capital would further isolate Israel around the world.

A news portal said, US officials and sources familiar with the conversation, Trump bluntly told Netanyahu:

“You’re f***in crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your a**. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”

Iran has made it clear a few times that a ceasefire in Lebanon is a key condition for any deal with the United States.

Iran’s talks with Washington are getting stalled as Israel continues to bomb Lebanon, said another news portal.

This has infuriated Trump, as without a peace deal with Iran, the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, and the global energy crisis shows no sign of ending any time soon.

The tense exchange on the phone happened as Iran warned that continued Israeli attacks in Lebanon could derail ongoing negotiations with Washington.

US officials said Trump believed Israel was responding too aggressively to Hizbollah attacks and feared the escalation could damage US-Iran diplomacy.

He was also reportedly upset by civilian casualties in Lebanon and by large strikes carried out to target individual Hizbollah commanders.(New Straits Times)