President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu walk into Trump's Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, Dec. 29, 2025.
Alex Brandon/AP
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is under pressure at home to escalate in Lebanon – once again – after four Israeli soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah attack inside Lebanon overnight Friday.
But the Israeli leader, trapped between far-right politicians saying “ all of Lebanon should burn ” and a US president demanding an immediate end to the war, must decide how far he can go.
When Hezbollah rockets crossed into northern Israel last week, Netanyahu ordered the Israeli military to strike Beirut. And when Iran then fired ballistic missiles at Israel, President Donald Trump forced Israel to limit its response . He dismissed the Hezbollah projectiles as “ very small and meaningless ,” a virtually unthinkable statement from any American president… other than Trump.
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Friday morning that it had struck 80 Hezbollah targets and killed “dozens of Hezbollah terrorists” following what it described as “repeated violations of the ceasefire.” According to the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health, at least 21 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Friday.
Notably, the IDF did not strike Beirut, which could’ve risked an immediate exchange of fire with Iran and likely angered Trump as the US is determined to push forward with the nascent agreement with Iran that also ends the Lebanon war. The US is also hosting another round of Israel-Lebanon talks next week.
But Tehran is already using the leverage it has, demanding an end to the fighting in Lebanon before it’s willing to continue talks with the US.
That pressure to stop attacks in Lebanon can come only from Trump, who has boxed Israel in several times in what he will allow Netanyahu to do. On Friday, Netanyahu vowed that “Israel will not tolerate attacks on our soldiers or on our territory, and it will exact a very heavy price from Hezbollah for such attacks.” He said the IDF would not withdraw from the territory it occupies in southern Lebanon.
The statement also seems to indicate that Israel will not go further, at least for now. Trump is very much in the driver’s seat. And Netanyahu knows it.
Read the full article at Egypt Independent →📄Source document: Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)
2 reports
Egypt IndependentIndependentCenter2 days agoIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu faces domestic pressure to escalate military actions in Lebanon after Israeli soldiers were killed in a Hezbollah attack. At the same time, U.S. President Donald Trump has urged restraint, dismissing Hezbollah's attacks as insignificant. The Israeli military responded by striking 80 Hezbollah targets, resulting in multiple casualties in Lebanon. The IDF avoided targeting Beirut to prevent further escalation.
Bias read (Center): The article presents facts without overtly favoring either side. It reports on the situation in Lebanon, including the actions taken by both Israeli and U.S. officials, without using biased language or selectively omitting perspectives.
Official sources cited
- government Israeli Defense Forces (IDF)
- government Lebanese Ministry of Public Health
Egypt IndependentIndependentCenter6 days ago Trump’s ceasefire agreement with Iran paints Netanyahu into a cornerIsraeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has remained silent on a U.S.-Iran ceasefire agreement brokered by former President Donald Trump, despite criticism from members of his government. The deal reportedly includes provisions related to the conflict in Lebanon, including calls for Israel and Hezbollah to cease hostilities. Netanyahu faces pressure from both Trump, who advocates for an end to the conflict, and his political allies, who oppose the terms of the agreement.
Bias read (Center): The article presents facts and quotes from multiple perspectives without overtly favoring one side. It does not use emotionally charged language or selectively omit information to support a particular viewpoint. The framing remains neutral, focusing on the situation and reactions rather than takinga
EG