A heated exchange reportedly occurred between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concerning Israel’s threats to escalate military action against Beirut’s southern suburbs. According to a report by Axios, a US website known for publishing details of high-level conversations between the two leaders, Trump confronted Netanyahu with strong language during a phone call on Monday, questioning his actions. The US president allegedly exclaimed, “What the fuck are you doing?” and continued with highly critical remarks, stating, “You’re fucking crazy. You’d be in prison if it weren’t for me. I’m saving your ass. Everybody hates you now. Everybody hates Israel because of this.” This account, however, has been disputed by Israeli media.

The phone call was prompted by Netanyahu’s order for the Israeli military to resume bombing the Dahiya area of southern Beirut, a known stronghold of Hezbollah, the Iranian-backed militia. Hezbollah had previously launched drone strikes into Israel, leading to the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issuing evacuation warnings to Lebanese civilians, which resulted in thousands fleeing their homes. Amidst these escalating tensions, Iran announced on Tuesday its decision to suspend peace talks with the US, insisting that any ceasefire agreement meant to facilitate negotiations for opening the Strait of Hormuz and lifting a US blockade on Iranian ports must also cover Lebanon.

This suspension by Tehran came shortly after Trump had indicated that negotiators had reached a preliminary deal, which he was considering signing. The alleged confrontation between Trump and Netanyahu, as reported by Axios, occurred right after Iran’s announcement, adding another layer of complexity to the already fragile diplomatic landscape. However, Channel 12, a prominent independent Israeli news network, challenged the specifics of the Axios report. Amit Segal, the network’s chief political analyst, stated that Trump did not personally attack Netanyahu and that the two leaders reached an understanding: Netanyahu would refrain from striking the Beirut suburbs if Hezbollah ceased its attacks on Israel.

The relationship between Trump and Netanyahu has historically been fraught with tension, despite Israel remaining the US’s principal ally in the region. Past instances of friction include a joint launch of strikes against Iran in February, initiated at Netanyahu’s urging. Trump has previously expressed frustration with both nations, once publicly stating that Iran and Israel “don’t know what the fuck they’re doing” during a 12-day exchange of strikes. His displeasure with Netanyahu was also evident after the Israeli prime minister congratulated Joe Biden on his 2020 election victory, which Trump contested, leading Trump to declare, “Fuck him.”

Both leaders are currently navigating significant domestic political pressures. Trump faces a divided Republican party, with some pro-Israel allies advocating for a more aggressive US stance against Iran, while others push for a swift resolution to the conflict to mitigate economic damage ahead of the US mid-term elections in November. Influential pro-Israel talk show host Mark Levin, a close associate of Trump, voiced concerns that the leaked details of the phone call could benefit the “Iranian regime, viewing us as weak and desperate for a deal – even coming to Hezbollah’s defense.” Meanwhile, Netanyahu is also under intense scrutiny. Israel’s parliament recently backed a bill in its first reading to dissolve the Knesset and trigger early elections, and his ongoing corruption trial, which has seen repeated delays due to the security situation in Israel, is scheduled to continue, further complicating his political standing.