On June 14, Trump took to social media platform Truth Social to express his disapproval, stating, "The attack on Beirut this morning should not have happened, especially on a day when we are very close to a peace agreement with Iran." He added, "Israel has the right to defend itself against threats, but the attack it responded to was very minor and insignificant, and no one was hurt. This important process must not be disrupted."
Israel conducted the airstrike after Hezbollah reportedly fired three projectiles toward northern Israel. The Lebanese Ministry of Health reported that three people were killed and 16 others injured in the attack. The Israeli Prime Minister's Office described the airstrike as a response to Hezbollah's fire directed at Israeli territory.
The airstrike occurred just as the U.S. and Iran were set to sign the peace MOU. In a phone interview with Axios, Trump noted, "The situation has shaken things up. The signing has been delayed by a few hours. We were supposed to sign by now, but it has been pushed back a few hours." However, he maintained that an agreement between the U.S. and Iran could still be reached.
Iran strongly condemned Israel's airstrike on Beirut and hinted at possible retaliation. The Iranian Foreign Ministry claimed that the responsibility for the dangerous consequences of the attack lies with the U.S. and Israel, while the chairman of Iran's parliamentary National Security Committee warned that "a strong response will come."
Trump emphasized, "There should be no further attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, and no party, including Hezbollah, should attack Israel. This could be the beginning of a long and beautiful peace. Let’s not squander this opportunity."
* This article has been translated by AI.
Copyright ⓒ Aju Press All rights reserved.