Who’s calling the shots? Netanyahu and Trump at odds over their war

AI Summary

Tensions between US President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu have surfaced over differing strategies in the conflict involving Israel, Lebanon, and Iran. Israeli strikes on Lebanon and Iran led to ballistic missile retaliation by Iran, escalating the regional hostilities and diverging political objectives.

Israel’s latest strikes on Lebanon and Iran have made clear that US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who started the war in lockstep, want different things. Trump had publicly warned Israel not to strike Beirut in its war with Iran-backed Hezbollah militants. When it did, on Sunday, Iran responded by firing ballistic missiles at Israel for the first time since the April ceasefire. Israel then struck Iran, with which Trump has been engaged in weeks of...