Trump condemns Israel’s attack on Beirut as Iran says US responsible

What Happened

Israeli military strikes on the Dahiyeh area of Beirut killed at least three people, according to Lebanese authorities. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the Israel Defense Forces acted in response to Hezbollah firing projectiles toward northern Israel, which he stated caused no casualties or damage. United States President Donald Trump condemned the Israeli attack on Truth Social as disproportionate, asserting that it jeopardized a deal with Iran that he said could be signed the same day to end fighting on all fronts, including in Lebanon. Trump called for 'no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon' and urged Hezbollah to halt attacks as well. Iran’s Parliament Speaker and top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, posted on X that the strike again drew U.S. trust into question, claiming the U.S. 'either lacks the will ... or the ability' to fulfill commitments. The incident occurred amid active indirect talks over Iran’s nuclear program, with both sides indicating a memorandum of understanding to halt hostilities across the region was nearly finalized, though exact timing and terms remained contested. Trump’s rebuke publicly exposed a rift between U.S. and Israeli military objectives.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The episode exposes a widening gap between U.S. and Israeli strategies toward Lebanon and Iran. Trump’s direct condemnation of an Israeli strike—while pursuing a comprehensive deal with Iran that would enforce a Lebanon ceasefire—signals potential U.S. willingness to constrain Israeli military action to achieve diplomatic progress. For Iran, the attack on the eve of a possible signing tests U.S. reliability as a mediator and could derail the fragile truce timeline. Domestically, Netanyahu faces pressure to show toughness against Hezbollah ahead of elections, complicating American efforts to decouple the Lebanon front from nuclear negotiations. The success of the entire framework now hinges on whether Washington can restrain Israel and secure mutual adherence to the forthcoming MOU.

Watch For

Monitor whether the U.S.-Iran memorandum of understanding is signed in the coming days despite conflicting timelines from Tehran (days) and Washington (Sunday). Watch for potential Israeli airstrikes elsewhere in Lebanon or Hezbollah retaliatory salvos that could collapse the deal. Statements from Netanyahu’s government insisting that Lebanon must be separated from any Iran pact will be critical. The 60-day negotiation period following any initial signing will be a key test for unresolved issues—Iran’s nuclear program, asset freezes, and sanctions relief. Any failure to halt fighting risks reigniting the wider U.S.-Iran conflict.