United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued one of his strongest public criticisms yet of Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon, saying civilian casualties have become too high and questioning the need for large-scale strikes against Hezbollah targets.
Speaking at the G7 summit in France, Trump said Israel had been fighting the Iran-backed militant group for too long and argued that entire residential buildings should not be destroyed to target individual militants.
“Too many people have been killed,” Trump said. “You don’t have to knock down an apartment house every time you’re looking for somebody because there are a lot of people in those apartment houses, and they’re not all Hezbollah.”
The remarks come amid growing tensions between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Lebanon and the recently announced U.S.-Iran peace framework.
Israeli officials have reportedly expressed concerns over Washington’s agreement with Tehran, while Trump has shown frustration over Israeli strikes in Beirut, fearing they could jeopardize efforts to stabilize the region.
Although Trump insisted he still enjoys a “great relationship” with Netanyahu, he said the Israeli leader should act more responsibly regarding military operations in Lebanon.
The rare public rebuke underscores emerging differences between Washington and Tel Aviv, despite the long-standing alliance between the two countries.
The White House later sought to emphasize that Trump maintains strong ties with Israel, describing the Israeli military as an “incredible partner” and reiterating America’s commitment to preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
However, there is no indication that Trump’s criticism will translate into policy changes or pressure that could significantly alter Israel’s military strategy.
Israel has faced increasing international scrutiny over civilian casualties in its regional conflicts, particularly in Gaza and Lebanon. Israeli officials maintain that militant groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas operate from civilian areas and use non-combatants as human shields.
The latest comments highlight the delicate balancing act facing the Trump administration as it seeks to preserve its alliance with Israel while advancing a broader regional peace deal with Iran.
