President Donald Trump on Wednesday, 17 June publicly urged Israel to exercise greater restraint in Lebanon, saying that while he backs Israel's security needs, its military responses to Hezbollah have at times been excessive. The remarks, made at a press conference closing the G7 summit in Évian, France, mark one of Trump's most direct public criticisms of Israeli military tactics since his return to office.

What Trump Said

Addressing his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump said: “We have a little dispute over Lebanon. I say, you can do a little softer touch, Bibi. You don’t have to knock down a building every time somebody walks into it that’s from Hezbollah.”

While praising Israel’s performance during the recent conflict with Iran — “They were terrific” — Trump was pointed on the Lebanon front: “But they could do a much better job with Hezbollah. On that, I don’t think they’re doing well, and I feel very bad for Lebanon.”

Trump’s Case for Lebanon

Trump invoked Lebanon’s history to make a broader humanitarian argument, describing it as a country that once produced “professors, doctors, lawyers” and an “incredible culture.” He said the country had been “trashed” and “living in hell” for the past “50, 60 years,” and deserved a chance to recover. The remarks signal a degree of sympathy for Lebanese civilian suffering that has been notably absent from prior US framing of the Hezbollah conflict.

Iran Deal as the Backdrop

Trump framed Lebanon as a secondary but unresolved element of a broader regional agenda anchored by the newly announced agreement with Iran. “The Lebanon peace is something we’ll have to work on a little bit,” he said. “It’s a very small piece of the puzzle, actually, but it still makes a lot of noise. The big deal is the Iran deal. But they have Hezbollah, and we’ve got to get that done one way or the other.”

Senior US officials told reporters after the press conference that Washington views Hezbollah and other Iran-backed groups as central to the next phase of regional diplomacy, with future discussions expected to focus on “regional stability and funding of proxies.”

Lebanon Leadership Invited to Washington

Trump revealed that Lebanon’s leadership — he referred to both “president” and “prime minister” — would visit Washington “over the next week or two” for discussions. He also pointed to Syria’s new leadership as a potential regional partner, noting that Hezbollah is “an enemy of his” — a reference to Syria’s current government.

This comes amid broader US efforts to convert the Iran nuclear agreement into a wider regional settlement that reduces proxy tensions across the Middle East. Notably, Trump reiterated that his personal partnership with Netanyahu remains strong: “We’ve had an amazing partnership. He’s been an amazing prime minister.”

What Comes Next

The diplomatic calendar is set to accelerate, with Lebanese leadership expected in Washington imminently and US officials signalling that Hezbollah’s role will feature prominently in post-Iran-deal negotiations. Whether Israel adjusts its operational posture in Lebanon in response to Trump’s public pressure remains to be seen.