US President Donald Trump on Tuesday described the war in Lebanon as a “minor” conflict, saying that if he hadn’t been there, “there wouldn’t have been an Israel.”
In remarks at the G7 summit in France, Trump said he had told Israel he “did not like” its attack on Beirut, referring to the Israeli aggression on Beirut’s southern suburb (Dahiyeh) on Sunday, just hours before announcing the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Iran.
“You don’t have to knock down an apartment house every time you’re looking for somebody because there’s a lot of people in those apartment houses – and they’re not all Hezbollah.”
Trump admits:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 16, 2026
Without the United States, there would be no Israel. pic.twitter.com/BpebLs245b
The US president also said Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu must now show greater “responsibility” regarding Lebanon, particularly as Israeli forces continue to occupy parts of south Lebanon.
Despite the criticism, he emphasized that his relationship with the Israeli premier remains strong, saying: “No, we have a great relationship.”
Meanwhile, Trump “suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah because to be honest with you, I think they’d do a better job of doing it.”
He added that that “if Israel cannot achieve its objectives without killing everyone else, then Syria should take on the role instead.”
Iran Deal Going to a ‘Second Stage’
On the other hand, Trump said the deal with Tehran has entered a new phase and confirmed that the United States would not be investing any money in Iran.
“We have our deal done with Iran, and it should be successful, it goes to a second stage, which I think would be actually easier,” he said, speaking to reporters at the G7 summit.
He stressed that the agreement explicitly rules out any Iranian nuclear weapon, adding: “The only thing that really matters to me is Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, and it says it loud and clear.”
Trump on Iran:
— Clash Report (@clashreport) June 16, 2026
Iran would even hit Türkiye once. I never understood it. Nobody is going to understand it.
That's the problem. They are totally irrational people, and those people are now gone.
I think Iran has rational leadership now. pic.twitter.com/AxVkmzB1Dr
Trump warned that escalation would follow any attempt by Tehran to pursue nuclear arms, saying: “All hell will rain down” on Iran if the Iranian government intended to acquire a nuclear weapon.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar)