Israel Postpones Beirut Attack After Iran's Warning, Says Trump

Following a stern warning from Iran and diplomatic efforts by the United States, Israel has temporarily stepped back from a planned major attack on Beirut, the capital of Lebanon. This claim has been made by US President Donald Trump.

In a post on Truth Social on Monday, Trump stated that he had a "very productive" discussion with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. He said, "No troops will go to Beirut. Those who were on their way have been called back."

The US President also claimed to have spoken with representatives of the Lebanese armed group Hezbollah. "I had a good talk with Hezbollah representatives. They have agreed that all shelling will stop. Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel."

Prior to this, Israel had intensified its attacks on Lebanon over the past few days amid accusations of ceasefire violations. On Monday, reports indicated that Netanyahu had ordered strikes on Hezbollah-controlled areas in Beirut's southern suburbs, raising fears of new waves of displacement. Already, over one million people have been displaced in Lebanon due to the ongoing conflict.

Shortly after Netanyahu's announcement, Iran's military and diplomatic circles reacted strongly. Iran's central military command warned that if Israel carried out its threat to attack southern Beirut, residents in the northern parts of the occupied territories (referring to northern Israel) should prepare to leave their areas.

In a statement, Iranian authorities claimed that Israel was consistently violating the ceasefire. They stated, "If they implement this threat, we call on residents of the northern regions and military settlements to evacuate to avoid harm."

Iran also stated that the ceasefire agreement reached with the US on April 8 through Pakistan's mediation included not only Iran but also the cessation of hostilities on all relevant fronts, including Lebanon. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi commented that Israel's escalating attacks in Lebanon, military operations in the country, and the US blockade of Iranian ports were clear violations of the ceasefire. "The ceasefire applies to all fronts, including Lebanon," he said, warning that a breach on any front would be considered a violation of the entire agreement.

Iran's lead negotiator and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf wrote on social media, "The naval blockade and the increase in war crimes by the genocidal Zionist regime in Lebanon are clear evidence of America's failure to implement the ceasefire." He further noted, "Every decision has a price, and that price must be paid."