Trump orders Benjamin Netanyahu to ‘CALM DOWN’ as Israel threatens Iran ceasefire with brutal bombardment in Lebanon
Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered his senior officials to immediately start peace talks with Lebanon after being told to ‘calm down’ in a phone call with Donald Trump.
According to Axios, the Israeli prime minister held a phone call between Trump and White House envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday. Witkoff reportedly told Netanyahu to ‘calm down’ the attacks in Lebanon and start peace negotiations.
Trump’s request comes as the United States prepares to meet with Iranian leaders in Pakistan to end the war.
During Trump’s two-week ceasefire with Iran, Israel continued to bomb urban population centers in Lebanon, including Beirut, killing and injuring civilians.
Iran claims Lebanon is part of a ceasefire agreement with the United States and has threatened to abandon peace talks and keep the Strait of Hormuz closed unless Israel stops attacking Hezbollah, its proxy in the region.
US and Israeli diplomats deny that the ceasefire with the Islamic regime applies to Netanyahu’s ground offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Officials close to Netanyahu have said Israel will not implement a ceasefire with Lebanon until a formal agreement is reached in upcoming peace talks.
I talked to Bibi, she won’t go overboard with it. “I just think we need to be a little more low-key,” Trump told NBC News on Thursday.
Israel has rapidly escalated its attacks on Lebanon since the declaration of the US-Iran ceasefire, killing an estimated 254 people in airstrikes, according to Lebanon Civil Defense.
Israel has rapidly escalated its attacks on Lebanon since the declaration of the US-Iran ceasefire, killing an estimated 254 people in airstrikes.
Iran claims Lebanon is part of a ceasefire agreement with the US and is now threatening to abandon peace talks and keep the Strait of Hormuz closed unless Israel stops
Officials close to Netanyahu say Israel will not abide by a ceasefire with Lebanon until a formal agreement is reached in upcoming peace talks
The Israeli prime minister held a phone call between Trump and White House envoy Steve Witkoff on Wednesday. Witkoff reportedly told Netanyahu to ‘calm’ attacks in Lebanon and start peace talks
“In light of Lebanon’s repeated requests to open direct negotiations with Israel, I ordered yesterday to start direct negotiations with Lebanon as soon as possible,” Netanyahu said.
The Israeli prime minister stated that the negotiations would “focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon.”
For decades, Iran has used proxy Islamist militant groups such as Hezbollah to attack U.S. and Israeli assets in the Middle East.
Negotiations between Netanyahu’s cabinet and Lebanon will begin next week, a senior Israeli official said.
The summit will be hosted by the United States and held at the Department of State headquarters in Washington DC.
US Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa will lead the talks, and Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter will represent Netanyahu. The Lebanese group will be represented by Ambassador Nada Hamadeh-Moawad.
The Iranians put forward a ten-point ceasefire plan on Tuesday, which Trump called “a workable basis on which to negotiate.”
The plan allows Iran to continue controlling the strait, but Tehran has said countries that do not threaten them militarily will be allowed through.
Vice President J.D. Vance will lead U.S. peace talks in Pakistan on Friday.
The ceasefire came after Trump vowed to destroy the entire Iranian civilization.
