Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his advisers were shocked by a social media post from President Trump declaring Israel was "prohibited" from conducting further airstrikes in Lebanon. The Israeli government immediately asked the White House for clarification, according to sources familiar with the matter. The post directly contradicted the text of a newly announced ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon.
The declaration's implication—that Trump was issuing an order Israel must obey—was described as unthinkable under previous U.S. administrations. Netanyahu was personally stunned and alarmed upon learning of the statement. The incident highlights the unpredictable nature of U.S. foreign policy communication under the current administration.
The published ceasefire agreement, announced by Trump on Thursday, outlines a 10-day truce that the U.S. had been pressing for. According to its text, Israel preserves the right to take military action "in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks." Israel committed not to launch offensive operations against Lebanese targets.
The contradictory messages create immediate operational ambiguity for Israeli military planners. They also risk undermining the credibility of the ceasefire itself if the parties disagree on its fundamental terms. The U.S. State Department, which published the agreement, now faces the task of reconciling the president's public pronouncement with the official document.
This public rift may complicate parallel U.S. diplomatic efforts, including work on a peace deal with Iran. It signals potential friction in the U.S.-Israel relationship at a critical moment.