Trump Tells G7 There'd Be No Israel Without Him as Lebanon Death Toll Reaches 3,798
Updated
Updated · Newsweek · Jun 16
Trump Tells G7 There'd Be No Israel Without Him as Lebanon Death Toll Reaches 3,798
3 articles · Updated · Newsweek · Jun 16
Summary
At the G7 in France, Trump publicly rebuked Benjamin Netanyahu, saying Israel would not exist without U.S. backing and specifically without what he had done as president.
The clash reflects Trump's frustration after Washington reached an Iran framework deal on Sunday and his view that Israeli strikes in Lebanon are jeopardizing it by killing too many civilians.
Lebanon has become the main sticking point: 3,798 people have been killed, more than 1 million displaced, and Trump said Israel must be "more responsible" rather than leveling apartment buildings to target Hezbollah.
Iran and Hezbollah say any new Israeli strikes or continued occupation of southern Lebanon would violate the agreement, while Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz insist Israeli troops will stay as long as necessary.
That dispute is feeding anger in Israel ahead of elections, with critics warning the U.S.-Iran deal could leave Tehran stronger even before a memorandum is scheduled for signing on Friday.
With Israel vowing to occupy Lebanon, is the landmark US-Iran peace deal already set to collapse?
Can Lebanon truly disarm Hezbollah, or is the nation forever caught in a regional proxy war?
The 2026 Lebanon War: Trump’s Break with Israel, Iran Ceasefire Hopes, and a Nation in Crisis
Overview
At the June 2026 G7 summit, Middle East tensions took center stage as President Trump openly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s handling of the Lebanon conflict, saying Israel should have acted faster and even berating Netanyahu after an Israeli strike on Beirut. Trump downplayed the war’s severity, calling it a 'minor war' and minimizing Hezbollah’s threat. These remarks signaled a shift in U.S.-Israel relations, with the U.S. prioritizing broader regional stability and ongoing negotiations with Iran. This public rift highlighted changing dynamics in regional diplomacy and set the stage for new challenges in the Middle East.