Trump on Lebanon strikes: “I spoke to Bibi, and he will calm this down”
US President Donald Trump said he spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu about Israel’s attacks on Lebanon and claimed the situation would be eased. Stressing that lower tensions are important for the temporary ceasefire, Trump also said Israel had reduced its attacks as of today.
As questions grow over the future of the temporary ceasefire in the Middle East, US President Donald Trump made a striking statement about Israel’s attacks on Lebanon. Speaking to the American press, Trump said he had spoken by phone with Benjamin Netanyahu and stressed that tensions on the Lebanon front needed to be brought down. “I spoke to Bibi, and he will calm this down a little bit. I think we need to act a little more calmly,” Trump said.
Trump calls for lower tensions
Trump said reducing tensions in the region is important for the ceasefire agreement. He also commented on the temporary ceasefire between the United States and Iran, saying he remained optimistic and believed the agreement would be implemented.
“Iranian leaders speak very differently in meetings than they do to the press. They are much more reasonable. They are agreeing to everything they need to accept. Remember, they have no military power right now,” Trump said.
Netanyahu spoke of talks as strikes continued
Despite Trump’s remarks, Israeli air strikes on southern Lebanon have continued. According to Lebanon’s official NNA news agency, Israeli aircraft have targeted the southern towns of Kalile, Shehabiyeh, Ansariyeh, Tulin, Haruf, Choukin and Mivdoun since the evening hours.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier announced that direct negotiations would begin with Lebanon, which has been targeted by Israeli air and ground attacks.
Israeli army describes its targets
In a statement, the Israeli army claimed it had begun targeting areas in Lebanon that Hezbollah allegedly used for launching rockets.
The Israeli military had said on March 2 that sirens were activated in northern Israel after rockets were detected from Lebanon. It later announced that it had launched air strikes across Lebanon and targeted Beirut, before deciding to expand its ground invasion after conducting heavy attacks by air and sea.
Death toll continues to rise
According to the latest statement from Lebanon’s Health Ministry, 1,888 people have been killed in Israeli attacks since March 2. The Lebanese government also said the number of displaced people in the country has exceeded 1.162 million.
