Trump says he swore at Netanyahu over Lebanon strikes

Investing.com -- President Donald Trump confirmed he used expletives during a phone call with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu earlier this week as he attempted to halt fighting between Israel and Lebanon and maintain peace negotiations with Iran.

Trump acknowledged directing harsh language toward Netanyahu in an interview with the Pod Force One podcast that aired on Wednesday. He said he was frustrated with Israel's continued military operations in Lebanon.

"I was a little bit perturbed at him constantly fighting with Lebanon," Trump said in the podcast. "At some point, I said: 'Bibi, we have to stop this.'"

The call occurred on Monday after Iran threatened to suspend talks with the US and increase restrictions on maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz due to Israeli threats to bomb Beirut.

Trump stated he "liked Bibi a lot" and rejected suggestions that the Israeli leader had "tricked" him into attacking Iran. "I'm the one that started it," Trump said. "I started it because they can't have a nuclear weapon. If it wasn't me, there would be no Israel right now."

Israel is engaged in conflict with Tehran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. The group fired drones at cities in northern Israel, forcing thousands of civilians to evacuate their homes, shortly after the US and Israel began bombing Iran in late February. The US designates Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

Trump said he also spoke to representatives of Hezbollah on Monday. He stated both the group and Israel agreed to stop firing on one another and Israeli forces backed off on raiding Beirut.

Fighting in southern Lebanon has continued since the Netanyahu-Trump conversation, although Israel has avoided hitting Beirut and Hezbollah's drone attacks on Israel have decreased.

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