Israeli Defense Minister Says Trump Prevented Israel from Killing Hezbollah in Lebanon: Report | Today’s news
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz claimed that US President Donald Trump prevented Israel from completely eliminating Hezbollah during its military campaign in Lebanon, according to a report in The New York Post, US pressure forced changes in Israel’s operational plans.
Katz reportedly said that Israel’s close partnership with the United States came during the conflict with restrictions.
“There are some limitations to the partnership with the United States,” The New York Post quoted Katz as saying after obtaining a translated transcript of the briefing.
“Netanyahu stood bravely”
Katz said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has resisted repeated US requests to limit military operations.
“Netanyahu stood up bravely” to Trump’s demands that the Israel Defense Forces leave Lebanon in four phone calls, Katz said, according to the news outlet.
He claims that Iran pressured the US
Katz argued that Iran was encouraging Washington to pressure Israel to halt its offensive.
“Iran has constantly pressured the United States to pressure Israel to stop it,” Katz said. “At that time we were attacking all of Lebanon, I remind you.”
He further claimed that Hezbollah was seeking Iranian intervention as Israeli operations intensified.
“Hezbollah … in a panic pushed Iran to link the arenas,” Katz said, referring to the connection of the Lebanese front to the US-Iranian ceasefire.
Disagreement over strikes in Beirut
According to Katz, Netanyahu eventually agreed not to target buildings in Beirut, a decision the defense minister said he opposed.
Netanyahu agreed “not to tear down buildings” in Beirut but insisted on continuing “surgical strikes,” Katz said.
Trump prioritized dealing with Iran, Katz claims
Katz suggested that Trump’s push to preserve the prospect of negotiations with Iran has influenced America’s stance on Lebanon.
“I’m sorry to make that connection (the ceasefire extended to Lebanon), but it was an American interest that (Trump) really, really wanted to pursue the possibility of dealing with Iran, etc., and he saw that as an obstacle,” Katz said, according to the news outlet.
Katz reportedly said the strategy later shifted to keeping Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, where Israel and Lebanon agreed last week that Israeli forces could remain until Hezbollah was defeated.
