Israel’s latest attacks on Lebanon and Iran have made it clear that US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who started the war with a bang, want different things.
Trump had publicly warned Israel not to attack Beirut in its war with the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia. When it did, on Sunday, Iran responded by firing ballistic missiles at Israel for the first time since the April ceasefire. Israel then hit out at Iran, with whom Trump has been engaged in weeks of high-profile talks.
That’s because Trump, whose party faces an election later this year, wants to end the unpopular war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz to lower oil prices. Iran has said a complete ceasefire in Lebanon was key to any deal.
Netanyahu, who is also facing elections this year, was under pressure to end Hezbollah’s attacks and prove that he was winning the war with Iran and its allies. He also needs to manage relations with Israel’s most important ally without appearing to agree with it.
When the United States and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, the allies appeared side by side.
