US President Donald Trump has said that Israel follows his direction on military matters, just a day before fresh Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon reportedly killed five people despite an existing ceasefire arrangement.
Speaking in an interview with Axios, Trump asserted that he has significant influence over Israeli military decisions and emphasized his close relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Trump: “They Do as I Say”
When asked whether he could prevent Israel from launching additional attacks in Lebanon, Trump responded confidently.
“They have a lot of respect for me, and they do as I say,” Trump said during the interview.
The US president also described his relationship with Netanyahu as positive but added that he occasionally needs to keep the Israeli leader “a little bit sane.”
The remarks have attracted global attention as tensions continue to simmer across the Middle East.
Israeli Strikes Hit Lebanon Despite Ceasefire
Just one day after Trump’s comments, Israeli forces reportedly launched multiple strikes across southern Lebanon.
According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency, the attacks targeted more than a dozen locations and resulted in the deaths of at least five people. Artillery shelling was also reported in and around Nabatieh, a region that has witnessed repeated clashes in recent months.
The strikes came despite ongoing efforts to maintain a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah aimed at reducing regional tensions.
Trump Defends His Support for Israel
During the interview, Trump strongly defended his administration’s past policies toward Israel and Iran.
He argued that his decision to withdraw the United States from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), commonly known as the Iran nuclear deal, prevented Tehran from developing nuclear weapons.
Trump claimed that without his actions, Israel’s security would have been severely threatened.
“If it weren’t for me, Israel would not exist today,” Trump said.
He further alleged that Iran had been close to obtaining nuclear weapons and suggested that such weapons could have been used against Israel and other countries in the region.
Trump Highlights Regional Security Concerns
Trump also referenced previous regional conflicts involving Iran, claiming that missile attacks during earlier confrontations had threatened several Gulf nations, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and Bahrain.
According to Trump, these developments strengthened regional cooperation with the United States and reinforced support for Washington’s Middle East policies.
Rising Concerns Over Middle East Stability
The latest violence in Lebanon has raised concerns about the durability of ceasefire agreements and the risk of broader regional escalation.
As diplomatic efforts continue, Trump’s comments regarding his influence over Israel have added another layer of controversy to an already fragile geopolitical situation.
Analysts warn that renewed fighting between Israel and Hezbollah could further destabilize the region if tensions continue to rise in the coming weeks.
