Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump spoke by phone on Thursday, 10 July, agreeing to sustain coordination between their countries 'on various fronts,' according to a statement from Netanyahu's office. The call came as the United States and Iran were locked in a fresh round of military escalation spanning Tuesday night through Thursday.

What Was Discussed

During the call, Trump briefed Netanyahu on US military actions in the Gulf, though Netanyahu's office did not elaborate on specifics. Netanyahu also raised what he described as the 'severity' of remarks by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his aides directed at Israel, without specifying which statements he was referencing.

Israeli officials have in recent days criticised Erdogan for accusing Israel of undermining US-Iran diplomacy and for calling its government 'war-addicted.' Israel has also voiced concern over a possible US sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkiye.

US-Iran Escalation: The Backdrop

The phone call unfolded against a rapidly deteriorating security environment. Allegedly in response to recent Iranian attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, the United States launched strikes against multiple targets inside Iran over the preceding days, resulting in casualties and infrastructure damage. Iran retaliated with missile and drone strikes on US military bases and facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Jordan. This marks a significant new round of direct military exchange between the two countries.

Israel's Military Posture

Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said Israel was 'closely monitoring developments in Iran and Lebanon and ready for immediate action.' Defence Minister Israel Katz echoed that posture, stating the military was 'alert and ready for the resumption of the campaign.'

Separately, Katz declared on Thursday that Israeli forces would remain in Lebanon until Hezbollah is fully disarmed. 'We did not ask permission from any party to enter Lebanon, and we do not need permission to remain in Lebanon,' he said in a statement released by his office.

What This Signals

The Netanyahu-Trump call reflects a concerted effort by both governments to stay aligned as the Middle East enters one of its most volatile stretches in recent memory. With US forces directly engaged against Iran, Israeli officials signalling readiness on two fronts — Iran and Lebanon — and a simultaneous diplomatic friction with Turkiye, the strategic calculus in the region is shifting rapidly. How Washington and Jerusalem calibrate their next moves could shape the trajectory of the conflict in the weeks ahead.