A source in Israel who asked not to be named told Reuters on the 24th that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made it clear to President Donald Trump: Israel will keep the freedom to act against threats in Lebanon. On the same day, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Hezbollah of trying to throw Lebanon back into chaos.
The anonymous source told Reuters, “During the call with President Trump last night, the Prime Minister stressed that Israel will maintain its freedom to respond to threats across all fronts—including Lebanon. President Trump acknowledged and supported that principle.” Trump had earlier mentioned that Washington and Tehran have “roughly worked out” a memorandum of understanding on a peace agreement, which would reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Qassem said on the 24th that in response to Israeli airstrikes and US sanctions on the Hezbollah-linked financial institution Al-Qard Al-Hassan, “the people have the right to take to the streets and protest, even topple the government.” Secretary Rubio fired back later that day, condemning Hezbollah’s “reckless call to overthrow Lebanon’s elected government,” and saying the Iran-backed militant group is “actively trying to drag Lebanon back into chaos and destruction.”
