President Donald Trump meets with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, December 29, 2025. (Amos Ben-Gershom/GPO)
According to the ceasefire, Israel may respond “in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.”
By Vered Weiss World Israel News
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his advisers expressed alarm on Saturday after President Trump posted that Israel was “prohibited” from carrying out strikes in Lebanon, a statement Israeli officials viewed as exceeding the terms of the ceasefire agreement, Axios reported.
Netanyahu was “personally stunned and alarmed” by Trump’s post, according to the report.
Trump wrote on Truth Social, “Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They are PROHIBITED from doing so by the U.S.A. Enough is enough!!!”
The post prompted Israel to seek clarification from the White House, amid concerns that the statement conflicted with the ceasefire framework that took effect Thursday.
Under the agreement, Israel committed to refraining from offensive military operations against Lebanese targets, including civilian, military, and other state sites, but retained the right to act in self-defense.
According to the terms, Israel may respond “in self-defense, at any time, against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks,” even during the ceasefire.
In an interview with Axios, Trump reiterated his position, saying, “Israel has to stop. They can’t continue to blow buildings up. I am not gonna allow it.”
A U.S. official later clarified that the policy had not changed. “The President’s ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel clearly states that Israel will not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets but preserves its right to self-defense against planned, imminent or ongoing attacks,” the official said.
The ceasefire followed several days of U.S. diplomatic efforts to halt fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, conducted alongside parallel work on a broader agreement involving Iran.
Despite the truce, violence has continued. On Friday night, Israel carried out a strike in southern Lebanon in response to an attack on IDF forces.
After the ceasefire took effect, one IDF reservist was killed and several others were wounded by an explosive device in southern Lebanon.
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