US President Donald Trump claimed on 2 June that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called off a planned large-scale military operation in Beirut, Lebanon following a direct personal appeal from him, and separately asserted that Hezbollah had agreed through intermediaries to halt attacks on Israel. Neither Israel nor Hezbollah immediately confirmed Trump's account, and it remained unclear whether any formal ceasefire arrangement had been reached.

What Trump Said

Trump disclosed the intervention in a pair of posts on his Truth Social platform. “I had a conversation with Bibi Netanyahu today, asking him not to go into a major raid of Beirut, Lebanon. He turned his Troops around. Thank you Bibi!” he wrote. In an earlier post, Trump stated there would be “no Troops going to Beirut” and that Israeli forces heading there “have already been turned back.”

Trump also said he had communicated, through intermediaries, with representatives of Hezbollah’s leadership. “I also had a conversation with Representatives of the Leaders of Hezbollah, and they agreed to stop shooting at Israel, and its soldiers. Likewise, Israel agreed to stop shooting at them,” he wrote, adding: “Let’s see how long that lasts — Hopefully it will be for ETERNITY!”

Netanyahu’s Cautious Response

According to reports citing The New York Times, Netanyahu subsequently struck a more guarded tone, stating that Israel would continue military operations in southern Lebanon and warning that attacks would resume if Hezbollah targeted Israeli cities and civilians. The caveat underscored the fragility of any understanding reached.

Lebanese officials, according to the same reports, had received confirmation of a US-backed proposal under which Hezbollah would halt attacks and Israel would refrain from expanding military operations around Beirut.

Diplomatic Context and Iran Factor

Reports citing The Wall Street Journal indicated that Trump had been pressing to end the Israel-Hezbollah confrontation, viewing it as an obstacle to ongoing diplomatic efforts involving Iran. The newspaper said Trump spoke directly with Netanyahu and sought to prevent the conflict from expanding further.

Meanwhile, reports citing The Washington Post noted that Iranian officials were expressing growing frustration with negotiations involving Washington following Israeli military actions in Lebanon and recent US strikes in the region. This comes amid broader Trump administration efforts to prevent a wider Middle East conflict while pursuing talks with Tehran over regional security and its nuclear programme.

Unverified Claims and What Remains Unclear

The developments carry significant caveats. Neither Israel nor Hezbollah officially confirmed Trump’s characterisation of the reported understanding as of the time of reporting. It also remained unclear whether any binding or formal ceasefire framework had been established, or whether the reported pause in hostilities reflected a durable agreement or a temporary tactical halt.

This is not the first time Trump has claimed personal credit for de-escalating a Middle East flashpoint — a pattern that has drawn both praise and scepticism from foreign policy analysts. The coming hours will test whether the reported understanding holds on the ground.