Trump criticises Israeli strike on Beirut, urges restraint
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US President Donald Trump on Sunday criticised Israel's airstrike on Beirut's southern suburbs and urged all parties to avoid further escalation, warning that ongoing military action could undermine efforts to secure a broader regional peace agreement.
In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the Israeli strike "should not have happened", particularly when negotiators were close to reaching a peace deal involving Iran.
"Israel has the right to defend itself against threats, but the attack it was responding to was very small and meaningless," Trump wrote. He also claimed that no one had been killed or injured in the incident that prompted Israel's response.
Calling for restraint, Trump said there should be no further attacks by either side.
"There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but there should also be no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel," he said.
Trump described the current situation as a possible opportunity for lasting peace in the region.
"This could be the beginning of a long and beautiful peace, let's not blow it," he added.
His remarks came hours after the Israeli military carried out an airstrike on a building in Beirut's southern suburbs, an area regarded as a stronghold of the Iran-backed Hezbollah movement.
Israel said the targeted building was being used by Hezbollah operatives and that the strike was conducted in response to attacks launched against Israeli territory.
Israel and Hezbollah have been engaged in hostilities since March, when Hezbollah fired rockets into Israel, saying the attacks were retaliation for the killing of Iran's supreme leader in earlier US-Israeli strikes.