United States President Donald Trump has criticised Israel’s bombing of residential apartment buildings in its pursuit of Hezbollah fighters, in a rare public rebuke of the US ally’s military tactics in Lebanon.
He said it was “unnecessary” to destroy entire residential blocks while targeting individuals, marking a departure from typical US presidential rhetoric on Israeli military operations.
Speaking at the G7 summit in France on Wednesday, Trump expressed concern over Israeli strikes in Beirut, suggesting they could undermine his peace efforts involving Iran.
He also said Israel had been fighting the Lebanese group for “too long,” adding that the scale of destruction was unjustified. “Too many people have been killed. 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,” he said.
His remarks point to rising tensions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, despite their long-standing political alliance.
Israeli officials are reportedly frustrated with Trump’s Iran deal, while the US president is said to be increasingly impatient with Israeli strikes on Beirut, which previously triggered Iranian retaliation and complicated diplomatic efforts.
Trump insisted he still maintained a “great relationship” with Netanyahu but said the Israeli leader should be “more responsible” in his handling of Lebanon.
“Without us, without the United States, there would be no Israel. Without me, there would be no Israel, because no other president was willing to do what I did,” he said.
The White House later shared a video clip of Trump’s remarks on social media, without offering further explanation.
However, a White House official reaffirmed the strong US-Israel relationship, describing Israel’s military as “incredible partners.”
“There has been no greater friend to Israel and a fighter for peace than President Trump. Americans and our allies around the world are already safer for the United States and Israel’s bold actions to deny the Iranian regime the ability to develop a nuclear weapon,” the official added.