Netanyahu Faces 'Vassal State' Backlash After Halting Beirut Strike Under Trump Pressure
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Jun 2
Netanyahu Faces 'Vassal State' Backlash After Halting Beirut Strike Under Trump Pressure
3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Jun 2
Yair Lapid and Naftali Bennett accused Benjamin Netanyahu of surrendering Israeli sovereignty after he appeared to drop a threatened strike on Hezbollah in Beirut.
Hours after Netanyahu said he had ordered the military to target Hezbollah in the Lebanese capital, Donald Trump said he had urged him not to launch a “major raid” and that both sides had agreed to stop firing.
The criticism spread beyond the opposition: far-right minister Itamar Ben-Gvir publicly urged Netanyahu to tell Trump “no” and press ahead with a blow against Hezbollah.
The episode exposed strain in Netanyahu’s close relationship with Trump and came as the Israeli leader was already weakened by being sidelined from U.S.-Iran talks over ending the wider war.
Fighting with Hezbollah has raged since early March, with Israel seizing parts of southern Lebanon and Hezbollah launching thousands of rockets and drones at Israeli targets.
With rivals united and a war escalating, is Prime Minister Netanyahu's long political career finally nearing its end?
Did a phone call from the U.S. President strip Israel of its sovereignty or prevent a catastrophic war?
Is Israel’s push to alter U.S. aid a move for independence or a deeper, less accountable alliance?
U.S. Intervention Halts Israeli Strike on Beirut: June 2026 Crisis, Political Fallout, and Escalation Risks in the Israel-Hezbollah Conflict
Overview
After a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in April 2026, fighting between Israel and Hezbollah quickly resumed and escalated. The IDF increased pressure on Hezbollah by operating in southern Lebanon, which Hezbollah saw as a ceasefire violation. In response, Hezbollah began using FPV drones, injuring Israeli soldiers and prompting even more aggressive Israeli attacks. This cycle of action and reaction led to a major planned Israeli strike on Beirut, which was suddenly halted after a direct intervention by President Trump. Despite this, both sides continued attacks, showing how fragile and ineffective the ceasefire had become.