US President Donald Trump has acknowledged that he used strong language while speaking to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel’s military operations in Lebanon.
Speaking on the New York Post’s Pod Force One podcast, Trump confirmed reports that he had called Netanyahu “f***ing crazy” during a phone conversation. However, he clarified that he was not angry with the Israeli leader.
“I wouldn’t say angry. I was a little perturbed by the constant fighting with Lebanon,” Trump said.
The conversation reportedly took place as the US administration was trying to keep negotiations with Iran alive and prevent tensions in the region from escalating further. Iran had earlier suspended talks with Washington, claiming that Israel’s military actions in Lebanon were undermining efforts to maintain a ceasefire.
According to an Axios report, Trump became frustrated after Israeli forces carried out strikes against Hezbollah-linked targets in Beirut’s southern suburbs. During the call, he reportedly warned Netanyahu that the military campaign was hurting peace efforts and increasing Israel’s international isolation.
While Trump did not directly comment on every detail of the reported exchange, he admitted that he urged Netanyahu to stop the ongoing operations.
“At some point I said, ‘Bibi, we’ve got to stop this. We’ve got to stop it,'” Trump recalled.
The issue has also complicated US-Iran diplomacy. Tehran has repeatedly argued that any broader agreement with Washington must address the conflict in Lebanon, insisting that attacks on Hezbollah cannot be separated from wider regional negotiations.
Following the conversation, Trump claimed on Truth Social that he had secured assurances from Netanyahu that planned operations near Beirut would be halted. He also stated that Hezbollah had agreed through intermediaries to stop attacks on Israel.
However, those hopes faded quickly as both sides exchanged fresh attacks within hours. Netanyahu later said Israel would continue its military operations in southern Lebanon and maintained that strikes on Beirut could remain an option if Hezbollah continued its attacks.
During the same podcast interview, Trump also rejected suggestions that Netanyahu had influenced his decision to launch military action against Iran.
“I started it because we can’t let them have a nuclear weapon,” Trump said, arguing that Iran’s nuclear ambitions posed a serious threat to Israel.
Meanwhile, regional tensions escalated further after Iran launched attacks on Kuwait and US forces carried out new military operations near the Strait of Hormuz.
Kuwait temporarily suspended flights after Iranian missiles and drones struck airport facilities and diplomatic compounds. Authorities reported one death and more than 60 injuries.
Iranian media also claimed that Revolutionary Guard forces targeted US military assets in the Gulf, including facilities in Bahrain. However, US Central Command denied that its bases had been hit and said several Iranian missiles failed to reach their targets.
Later, the US military announced a fresh round of what it described as defensive strikes inside southern Iran. According to CENTCOM, American forces targeted missile launch sites, struck boats allegedly involved in deploying naval mines and carried out operations near the Strait of Hormuz after reported Iranian attacks in the area.