Netanyahu Surprised by Trump's Ban on Israel Attacking Lebanon

US President Donald Trump has banned Israel from attacking Lebanon. The announcement, delivered via social media by Trump, is said to have left Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “shocked and worried”.

“Israel will no longer bombard Lebanon,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.

“They are FORBIDDEN from doing so by the US. Enough is enough!!!” he emphasised, as reported by AFP via detikNews on Saturday (18/4/2026).

The US media outlet Axios, citing sources, reported that the Israeli government has requested clarification from the White House. This is because Israeli officials saw the announcement through Trump’s social media, not via an official statement.

According to Axios, Israeli officials are irritated because Trump’s statement contradicts the text of the ceasefire agreement between Israel and Lebanon. The text was issued by the US State Department on Thursday (16/4).

Under the agreement, Israel retains the right to take military action, even during the ceasefire, “to defend itself at any time against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.”

It is known that on Thursday morning local time, Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon. The ceasefire automatically took effect in both Tel Aviv and Beirut at midnight local time.

“I just had an extraordinary conversation with the highly respected President Joseph Aoun of Lebanon and Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu of Israel. These two leaders have agreed that to achieve peace between their countries, they will officially commence a 10-day ceasefire at 5:00 PM EST,” Trump said in the announcement via Truth Social at the time.

The announcement followed rare direct talks between the Israeli and Lebanese ambassadors in Washington DC, mediated by the US, on Tuesday (14/4).