Iranian Lawmaker Warns of Painful Retaliation to Israeli Strikes on Beirut
On Sunday, Iranian lawmaker Ebrahim Rezaei declared that Tehran will deliver a “painful” response to Israel’s recent attack on the Dahiyeh suburb in southern Beirut. The Israeli military reported targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in the area.
“We will deliver a decisive and painful response to the Zionist regime’s attack on Dahiyeh,” Rezaei wrote, adding, “rabid dogs must be disciplined and put back in their place.”
“Look at the sky over the occupied lands tonight,” he further stated.
Trump Affirms Alignment with Netanyahu Despite Disagreements
During an interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, former US President Donald Trump said he and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remain largely aligned, despite some differences regarding Israel’s military operations.
“We get along very well,” Trump said. “We’ve been great comrades. We did a very, very big number on a certain country that was nothing but trouble for 47 years. I disagree with him on a couple of things.”
Earlier reports indicated that Trump had confronted Netanyahu over Israel’s threats to resume airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs.
Trump Defends Military Actions and Addresses Campaign Promises
Trump pushed back against claims that he broke a campaign promise to avoid new foreign conflicts.
“Well, well, first of all, I didn’t guarantee no war,” Trump said. “Why would I have built the strongest military in the world?”
“I didn’t promise anything. I don’t like these endless wars. This is not an endless war. We’ve been doing this for three months.”
Despite campaigning on ending wars, Trump defended his military engagements in Venezuela and Iran, emphasizing their limited duration compared to past US conflicts.
“We’re there for a few months,” he said. “And the threat is largely over. Soon, it will be over. But you cannot let Iran have a nuclear weapon, or they will blow you up.”
Trump Calls for Surgical Strikes on Hezbollah and Clarifies Iran Deal Position
Trump advocated for more targeted strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon and clarified that he is not demanding Lebanon’s inclusion in the Iran nuclear deal negotiations.
“I’d like to see a more surgical attack on Hezbollah. I think it should be more surgical,” Trump said. “I’d like to see Lebanon have a better life.”
When asked if Lebanon should be part of the Iran deal, Trump replied, “No, no. Not at all. I’m not demanding. I think they’d like to see it, but I’m not demanding.”
Previously, Trump expressed a desire to separate Lebanon-related discussions from Iran negotiations, whereas Tehran seeks to link the conflicts.
Casualties Reported in Gaza Amid Ongoing Israeli Attacks
Gaza’s health ministry reported that at least ten people were killed and 36 injured in Israeli attacks across the territory over the past day.
The ministry stated that 961 people have died in Israeli attacks since the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took effect in October 2025.
Since October 2023, when Israel launched an assault following a Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, which resulted in approximately 1,200 deaths and 251 hostages, 72,971 people—many women and children—have been killed in Gaza due to Israeli attacks.
Israeli Strikes on Southern Beirut Result in Casualties
Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency reported that Israeli attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs have killed at least two people and injured 11 others, citing preliminary casualty figures. Independent verification of these numbers has not yet been possible.
IDF Orders Evacuation of Tyre Ahead of Planned Attacks
The Israeli military has instructed residents of Tyre, Lebanon’s fifth-largest city, along with nearby camps al-Bass and Zakuk al-Mufdi and surrounding neighborhoods, to evacuate immediately ahead of planned attacks.
IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee issued the warning on social media, stating that the attacks are in response to violations of the ceasefire agreement.
International law experts have criticized Israel’s warnings as inconsistent, often overly broad, and sometimes absent prior to airstrikes. Over one million people have been displaced due to the renewed Israeli conflict, creating a significant refugee and humanitarian crisis.
US Destroys Iranian Drones Near Strait of Hormuz
The US Central Command (Centcom) announced it destroyed two Iranian drones that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, following strikes on four other drones and coastal surveillance radar sites.
“American forces remain postured and ready to continue defending against Iranian aggression,” Centcom stated.
This incident is part of ongoing hostilities between Tehran and Washington amid stalled negotiations, with neither side willing to make major concessions.
Since late February, Tehran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz to countries it deems hostile, while the US imposed a counter-blockade on ships using Iranian ports in April. These actions have caused global energy prices to surge, as the strait is vital for oil and natural gas shipments.
Trump Refuses to Unfreeze Iranian Assets Before Peace Deal
In the Meet the Press interview conducted on Friday, Trump stated he would not unfreeze Iranian assets or lift sanctions before a peace agreement is reached.
“Comes after,” he said. “Yeah. If they behave, if they do a good job, we start talking. Yeah.”
Trump also reiterated that Lebanon is not a condition for a short-term deal with Tehran.
He expressed a desire to maintain US troops in the Middle East until the mission is complete and announced plans to seize and destroy Iran’s highly enriched uranium, much of which is believed to be stored deep underground.
Trump claimed that the US and Iran are close to a deal despite significant unresolved issues, including Israel’s ongoing war in Lebanon, Tehran’s nuclear program, and control of the Strait of Hormuz.
“We’re very close to a deal, or I’m going to blow the hell out of them,” Trump told NBC News.
Israeli Strikes on Beirut Threaten US-Iran Peace Talks
Israel has conducted at least two strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs since the ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel took effect on 17 April. The ceasefire aimed to restrict Israeli strikes on Beirut in exchange for a halt in rocket fire toward northern Israel.
These recent strikes are expected to undermine US-led peace negotiations with Iran, as Tehran insists that Israel’s assault on Lebanon must cease for the conflict to end.
Despite diplomatic efforts with Lebanon, Israel continues to strike southern Lebanon and issue frequent evacuation orders.
Hezbollah, which is not directly involved in negotiations with Israel, has responded by firing rockets and drones into northern Israel and targeting Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, opposing disarmament efforts and Israeli occupation of parts of southern Lebanon.
According to Axios, Trump confronted Netanyahu over Israel’s threats to resume airstrikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs during a tense phone call last Monday. However, Trump appears limited in his capacity to influence Netanyahu’s military decisions despite the US’s superior military power.
Lebanon’s health ministry reports that at least 3,526 people have died in Israeli attacks since the war began on 2 March. The renewed conflict was triggered by Hezbollah rocket attacks on northern Israel following the killing of Iran’s former supreme leader in Tehran on 28 February by US and Israeli forces.
Israeli Strikes on Beirut’s Southern Suburbs Defy Ceasefire
Reports indicate Israeli attacks on Beirut’s southern suburbs, Dahiyeh, with at least three explosions heard. The Israeli military claimed responsibility for striking Hezbollah infrastructure in the Lebanese capital but did not provide evidence.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement confirming strikes on “terrorist” headquarters in Beirut’s southern suburbs, apparently in retaliation for Hezbollah firing toward northern Israel. This action appears to defy a US request to avoid attacking Lebanon’s capital.
Lebanon’s National News Agency reported that the strikes targeted two apartments in two buildings in the southern suburbs, an area known for strong Hezbollah support. No official confirmation of casualties or injuries has been released.
