WSJ: Trump delivers tough message to Netanyahu over Hezbollah strikes

Washington is working intensively to prevent the collapse of a ceasefire agreement amid the Israel–Lebanon conflict.

US President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to scale back attacks on Hezbollah, to allow the United States and Iran to proceed with talks scheduled for the upcoming weekend, Caliber.Az reports, citing The Wall Street Journal.

According to one source, Trump delivered a tough message during a phone call with the Israeli leader, and the conversation was shorter than usual.

Meanwhile, Lebanese officials signalled their readiness to engage in negotiations aimed at achieving a lasting peace, but insisted on an immediate halt to strikes by Tel Aviv as a precondition.

Although Lebanon is not covered by the declared ceasefire regime, Israel has agreed to take the interests of the negotiation process into account, demonstrating its intention to “to be a helpful partner,” NBC News reported, citing a source within the U.S. administration.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov