US President Donald Trump stunned Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by declaring Israel was “prohibited” from carrying out further airstrikes in Lebanon, even as Iran announced it was reopening the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping during a fragile regional ceasefire, according to inputs from Axios.Trump’s remarks created immediate confusion in Israel and raised new questions over US policy toward the 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. At the same time, Tehran’s decision to reopen one of the world’s most critical oil shipping lanes signaled possible movement in broader US-Iran diplomacy.
“Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!” Trump said Friday.Axios reported that Netanyahu and his advisers were shocked by the statement, particularly because the ceasefire terms released Thursday by the US State Department explicitly preserved Israel’s right to self-defense against “planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.”According to Axios, Israeli officials contacted the White House seeking clarification after learning of Trump’s comments through media reports. Aides, including Israeli Ambassador to Washington Yechiel Leiter, reportedly scrambled to determine whether Washington had changed its position.After Axios sought comment, a US official said: “The President’s ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel clearly states that Israel will not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets but preserves its right to self-defense against planned, imminent or ongoing attacks.”Trump later doubled down in an interview with Axios, saying: “Israel has to stop. They can’t continue to blow buildings up. I am not gonna allow it.”Despite the ceasefire, military activity continued. Lebanese state media reported an Israeli drone strike killed a motorcyclist in the southern town of Kunin shortly after Trump’s statement. Separately, an Israeli source said Hezbollah had violated the truce by attacking Israeli forces.”Our forces acted in self-defense to remove the threat in accordance with the ceasefire agreement reached with the United States and Lebanon,” the Israeli source said.Meanwhile, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi announced that commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would resume during the Lebanon ceasefire.”In line with the ceasefire in Lebanon, the passage for all commercial vessels through Strait of Hormuz is declared completely open for the remaining period of ceasefire,” Araghchi said.However, a senior Iranian military official said military vessels remained barred from the waterway.Trump welcomed Iran’s announcement but said US pressure on Tehran would continue.”THANK YOU!” Trump posted, later adding: “The naval blockade will remain in full force and effect as it pertains to Iran, only, until such time as our transaction with Iran is 100% complete.”He also wrote: “A GREAT AND BRILLIANT DAY FOR THE WORLD!” and claimed Iran had agreed the strait “will no longer be used as a weapon against the World.”The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments, and oil prices reportedly fell further after Iran’s announcement amid hopes for easing regional tensions.
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In Israel, the military said wartime restrictions were being lifted to allow civilian movement and economic activity to resume, though Netanyahu warned operations against Hezbollah were not over.”We have not yet finished the job. There are things we plan to do to address the remaining rocket threat and the drone threat,” Netanyahu said.
