US President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Israel's latest military strike on the southern suburbs of Beirut, Lebanon. Trump asserted that the attack risks undermining a potentially historic peace breakthrough involving Iran, which he claims is very close to being finalized.
In a statement posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, President Trump stated that the Beirut attack "should not have happened," particularly on a day when "we are so close to a Peace Deal with Iran." While acknowledging Israel's right to self-defense, he downplayed the incident that reportedly prompted the Israeli response, describing it as "very small and meaningless" with no casualties.
Calls for De-escalation
President Trump urged all parties involved to avoid further military action, emphasizing that ongoing negotiations are nearing a point that could "bring peace to the region, including to Lebanon." He specifically called for Israel to halt additional operations within Lebanese territory. Simultaneously, he warned the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah against launching attacks across the border into Israel.
"There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but there should also be no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel," Trump wrote, adding that the moment "could be the beginning of a long and beautiful peace — let’s not blow it."
Iran Warns of Retaliation
President Trump's remarks coincided with strong condemnations from Iranian officials regarding the Beirut strike. Brigadier General Mohammad Jafar Asadi, deputy commander of Iran’s highest military command, reportedly warned through local Iranian media that the attack "will not go unanswered." This statement suggests that Iran may seek to retaliate, either directly or through its network of regional allies.
Casualties and Damage in Beirut
Following the strike, emergency crews in Lebanon initiated search and rescue operations. The Lebanese Civil Defence reported recovering three bodies from the site, with efforts continuing to clear debris and locate additional victims. Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency indicated that at least 15 people were injured and noted significant damage to nearby residential buildings and commercial establishments within the densely populated southern suburbs of Beirut.
President Trump’s unusually direct criticism of an Israeli military operation underscores the delicate nature of ongoing diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran, highlighting the complexities of regional stability.