Donald Trump reiterated his support for Israel in a message on Truth Social on Saturday night, following reports of Benjamin Netanyahu’s unease over a previous statement made by Trump. In his post around 9pm ET, the former US president praised Israel as a valuable ally of Washington and criticized European countries for not participating in the Iran conflict.
Earlier accounts depicted Netanyahu as surprised and troubled by Trump’s assertion that Israel was forbidden from launching air strikes in Lebanon. Sources revealed that Netanyahu was taken aback when his aides informed him of the message.
In a statement on Friday, Trump declared, “Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!” Trump’s subsequent message, however, expressed steadfast American support for Israel.
Trump’s words emphasized Israel’s loyalty and strength as a critical ally to the United States, commending their courage and determination in times of conflict. Meanwhile, Iran announced the reopening of the strait to commercial vessels after a 10-day truce between Israel and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah group in Lebanon, leading to a drop in oil prices.
Despite this development, Trump affirmed that the US blockade of Iran’s ports would continue until a deal was reached between Tehran and the United States. The blockade was initiated following unsuccessful talks between the two nations in Pakistan.
According to the US Central Command, 23 ships have been redirected from Iran since the blockade was put in place on Monday. The situation remains dynamic, and updates on the Middle East conflict can be found by following our live blog.