Trump Criticizes Israel's Lebanon Strikes, Urges Greater Civilian Protection

U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticized Israel’s military operations in Lebanon, questioning the necessity of destroying entire apartment buildings while targeting Hezbollah militants. Speaking during the G7 summit in France, Trump said the conflict between Israel and the Iran-backed Hezbollah group had gone on for too long and resulted in excessive civilian casualties.

Trump expressed concern over Israeli airstrikes in Beirut, arguing that military operations should avoid harming innocent residents. He emphasized that not everyone living in targeted buildings is affiliated with Hezbollah and called for more responsible actions to protect civilians during counterterrorism operations.

The remarks come amid growing tensions between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite their long-standing political alliance. In recent weeks, disagreements have reportedly intensified over Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon and Trump’s diplomatic efforts to secure a peace agreement with Iran. Israeli strikes in Beirut reportedly complicated negotiations by triggering Iranian responses at a sensitive stage in the talks.

Although Trump reaffirmed that he maintains a strong relationship with Netanyahu, he also suggested the Israeli leader should act more responsibly regarding Lebanon. Trump highlighted his support for Israel, stating that his administration had taken unprecedented steps to strengthen U.S.-Israel relations.

The dispute reflects broader disagreements over Israel’s approach toward Hezbollah. Trump and previous U.S. presidents have rarely issued public criticism of Israeli military tactics, making his comments notable. Shortly after the remarks, an official White House social media account shared a video clip of Trump’s statements, drawing additional attention to the issue.

The White House later reiterated that Trump remains a strong supporter of Israel and praised the Israel Defense Forces as key partners. Officials also emphasized that the United States and Israel have worked closely to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Despite Trump’s criticism, there is no indication that his comments will lead to significant policy changes or force Israel to alter its military strategy. Israel continues to face international scrutiny over civilian casualties in regional conflicts, including Gaza. Israeli officials maintain that they do not intentionally target civilians and accuse groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas of using civilian populations as human shields.

The Israeli Embassy in Washington declined to comment on Trump’s remarks.