Netanyahu denies US restricted Israeli strikes in Lebanon

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denied reports Sunday that the United States had restricted Israeli military operations in Lebanon. “I heard it was said in the media that President Trump asked not to act against terror tunnels in Lebanon. This is a legend, fake news. He didn't say anything to me about it, and I didn't ask him. We operate according to our considerations,” Netanyahu said during a weekly Cabinet meeting.

Contradiction with reports

His remarks contradicted an earlier report by Israel’s public broadcaster KAN that Israel had provided US officials with detailed intelligence on alleged Hezbollah tunnels in southern Lebanon in an effort to obtain US approval for military operations. The report suggested Israel sought a US green light to continue its military activities in Lebanon, contrary to Netanyahu’s assertion that Israeli military decisions are made independently. Since March 2, Israeli military operations in Lebanon have killed at least 4,303 people and injured 12,202, according to Lebanese authorities, while displacing more than one million.

Gaza reconstruction and disarmament

Turning to Gaza, Netanyahu said there would be no reconstruction in the enclave before it is disarmed, a position that departs from the sequencing outlined in President Trump’s plan to end the war. “There will be no reconstruction in Gaza without dismantling and demilitarising the Strip,” he said. Under the second phase of Trump’s plan, a broader Israeli military withdrawal and the launch of reconstruction are to proceed in parallel with the beginning of the disarmament of Palestinian factions. Since October 2023, the Israeli army has killed more than 73,000 people and injured over 173,000 in Gaza, according to official data.