Israel halts Lebanon strikes after Trump tells Netanyahu ‘everyone hates you’

Akhtar MakoiiMon, June 1, 2026 at 10:52 PM UTC

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A boy looks out from Lebanon’s Jabal Amel Hospital after it was damaged in an Israeli airstrike on Monday - AP

Israel has cancelled air strikes on Lebanon at the request of Donald Trump, as he tries to bring Iran back to the negotiating table.

The US president phoned Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday evening after Iran walked away from peace talks and said it would return only if Israel ceased its attacks on Lebanon and Gaza.

Mr Trump had called Mr Netanyahu “crazy” and accused him of being ungrateful, in an expletive-laden call on Monday.

One US official told Axios that Mr Trump told Mr Netanyahu that following through on his plans to bomb Lebanon would further isolate Israel on the global stage.

Two sources said that Mr Trump claimed that he had helped keep the Israeli prime minister stay out of jail – a reference to Mr Netanyahu’s ongoing corruption trial.

Summarising the US president’s remarks, a Washington official said: “You’re f---ing crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your a--. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.”

A second source briefed on the call said Trump was “p----” and at one point yelled at Mr Netanyahu: “What the f--- are you doing?”

Before Iran quit peace talks, Donald Trump had tried to reassure Americans, saying: ‘Just sit back and relax’ - Reuters

Mr Trump announced after the call: “There will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back.”

He later told ABC News that he thinks ‌there ‌will ⁠be a deal ⁠with Iran to extend the ceasefire and ‌reopen the Strait of ‌Hormuz “over the next week”.

Mr Netanyahu had ordered attacks on targets in the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital, a Hezbollah stronghold known as Dahiyeh, in retaliation for alleged ceasefire violations by the terror group. Iran said it would retaliate with strikes on northern Israel and quit the peace negotiations.

Tasnim news agency, which is associated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), said on Monday: “Iran’s negotiating team has suspended talks and message exchange through mediators.”

Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters – the IRGC’s main operational command – said: “If they bomb Dahiyeh and Beirut, those who do not want to be harmed should leave the area.”

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Initially, Mr Trump said of Iran walking away from peace negotiations: “I don’t ‌care if they’re over, ‌honestly ... I really ⁠don’t care. I couldn’t ⁠care less.”

However, on Monday night, he held what he called a “very productive” call with Mr Netanyahu, claiming he had persuaded both Israel and Hezbollah to de-escalate. Israel agreed not to send troops to southern Beirut and the Lebanese militant group promised to stop attacks.

Benjamin Netanyahu had said Israel would strike southern Lebanon following ceasefire violations - Reuters

Mr Trump said on Truth Social after a “very productive” call with Mr Netanyahu: “There will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back.

“Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop – That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel.”

Trump: ‘We’ll just go silent’

Mr Trump said he had not heard directly from Iran on the suspension of talks, but told NBC: “I think we’ve been talking too much if you want to know the truth. I think going silent would be very good, and that could be that could be for a long time.

“It doesn’t mean we’re going to go and start dropping bombs all over there. We’ll just go silent. We’ll keep the blockade. Blockade is a piece of steel.” He later said talks were continuing “at a rapid pace”.

A boy at the Jabal Amel Hospital, damaged in an Israeli airstrike that hit a nearby building, in Lebanon - AP

Iran had announced it would pursue “full closure” of the Strait of Hormuz and would close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait as part of its response if attacks on Lebanon continue.

The Bab el-Mandeb Strait, between Yemen and Djibouti at the entrance to the Red Sea, is a second critical maritime passage. Control of the strait would allow Iran to threaten shipping destined for the Suez Canal and Mediterranean ports. Houthi rebels, allied with Iran, have attacked vessels there.

Oil prices jumped and UK stocks fell sharply after reports that Iran would pause peace talks with the US in protest at Israel’s strikes in Lebanon. Brent crude has risen by more than 5 per cent to around $96 a barrel over concerns a breakdown in talks would lead to the Strait of Hormuz remaining closed.

Despite Iran’s threats, 15 commercial vessels, including four tankers, passed through the Strait of Hormuz on Monday with IRGC coordination and security provision, it claimed.

Meanwhile, Ebrahim Rezaei, Iran’s parliament security spokesman, said any agreement must allow “everyone to judge Iran as the winner”. If negotiations fail, Iran would return to battle “more honourably and powerfully prepared”, he said.

Mr Rezaei said the fundamental issue between Iran and the US was ending the war. He said other matters – including nuclear issues, the Strait of Hormuz and frozen assets – were conditions for a ceasefire, not negotiating points.

Earlier in the day, Mr Trump said: “Just sit back and relax, it will all work out well in the end – It always does!”

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Source: “AOL Breaking”