President Donald Trump announced that the United States has prohibited Israel from bombing Lebanon any further, emphasizing that this decision is separate from any potential U. S. deal with Iran. Trump stated, “Enough is enough! ! ! ” in a social media post regarding the matter. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office did not respond immediately to Trump’s comments, but he noted that Israeli forces remain in southern Lebanon for defense purposes against nearby threats.
A U. S.-backed ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon began at 2100 GMT on Thursday, halting escalating violence that started on March 2 when Hezbollah attacked northern Israel. This conflict has reportedly resulted in 2,000 deaths according to Lebanese officials. Despite a truce, Trump reiterated that any agreement with Iran is not connected to the situation in Lebanon, stating that the U. S. would address Hezbollah appropriately.
On the matter of the Strait of Hormuz, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced that it is open during the ceasefire. However, Trump claimed that Iran has agreed to keep the strait open permanently and not use it as a threat against global shipping. The conflict with Iran had previously impacted navigation through the strait, vital for oil and gas supplies.
Following weeks of fighting, a two-week ceasefire in the Iran conflict was established on April 8, after which the U. S. enforced a naval blockade on vessels related to Iran. Trump declared that the blockade would remain until a complete deal with Iran is finalized.
Trump also rejected NATO’s offer of assistance during the crisis and criticized the organization, calling it a “Paper Tiger,” while expressing gratitude towards U. S. allies like Saudi Arabia and the UAE. The ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon does not entail an Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon, where troops maintain positions to deter Hezbollah attacks.
With information from Reuters
