Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said that he has told US President Donald Trump that Israel reserved the right to defend itself against Iran at any time, despite Trump’s public objections to Israeli attacks on Iran.
“Israel has a full right to self-defence, and we are exercising it as required. I say this to you, just as I say it with appreciation and respect in my good conversations with my friend President Trump,” Netanyahu said in a televised statement on Monday.
Netanyahu’s remarks came a day after Israel bombarded Lebanese capital Beirut, despite warnings from both Trump and Iran.
Following Israeli attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs, Iran responded with a barrage of missiles towards Israel, where some officials in turn called for a relentless response.
“Tonight Tehran must burn!” demanded extremist Netanyahu ally, Itamar Ben Gvir.
Trump, however, told the Financial Times shortly after the strikes on Sunday that Israel “won’t have any choice” but to accept any potential deal to end the war with Iran.
“I call the shots. I call all the shots. He (Netanyahu) doesn’t call the shots,” he said, referring to his Israeli counterpart.
Trump called on Israel not to respond to Iranian missiles, telling Israel’s Channel 12 in an interview that he warned Netanyahu that he could be left alone against Iran soon if escalations continue.
“I told Bibi, you’d better be careful what you do, because you could be left alone against Iran very soon.”
