Trump Threatens to Leave Israel ‘Alone’ as Iran and Israel Halt Strikes

A sudden halt to the most serious exchange of fire between Iran and Israel since April’s ceasefire took hold on Monday after US President Donald Trump delivered a blunt warning to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “You better be careful, or you will be on your own very soon.” The admonition, reported by multiple sources, came as Israeli jets were poised for what officials described as the largest wave of strikes on Iranian targets since the war began. Within hours, Israel’s military stood down, and Iran’s armed forces command announced the cessation of operations, though both sides attached threatening conditions that underscored the fragility of the truce.

The flare-up began late Sunday when Israel bombed Beirut’s southern suburbs, a Hezbollah stronghold, prompting Tehran to fire dozens of ballistic missiles at Israel in what it called a “painful response” in defence of the Lebanese people. Israel retaliated by hitting a petrochemical plant in south-western Iran and air defence systems, wounding at least 15 people according to Iranian state media. The tit-for-tat strikes sent oil prices up nearly 4% and panicked regional governments, five of which, Trump later said, telephoned him urging him to restrain Netanyahu.

Viewed from Tehran, the ceasefire announcement was an act of calibrated strength: the central military staff said the operation had ended but warned that “much harsher and more crushing actions” would follow any Israeli attacks on Lebanon, signalling that the Lebanese front remained Tehran’s red line. From Jerusalem, Netanyahu acknowledged the halt but was careful to frame it as a temporary measure, telling Israelis that the fire had stopped only because Iran had ceased attacking, and promising to respond “with force” to any resumption. He added that the campaign against Iran and Hezbollah was not over and that Israel would maintain full operational freedom in Lebanon.

Behind the pause lies a widening rift between Washington and Jerusalem. Trump is pushing for a negotiated settlement with Iran and made clear, both publicly and privately, that he would not countenance a return to full-scale war. Israeli officials acknowledged that Netanyahu had initially defied Trump’s request not to retaliate, a decision that exposed the limits of American influence over a prime minister who sees Iranian restraint as a mirage. Analysts in London note that Trump’s willingness to threaten abandoning an ally marks a departure from traditional US posture and may bolster Tehran’s negotiating leverage. With both sides’ commitments conditional and Israel continuing strikes on Hezbollah positions in southern Lebanon, the ceasefire remains a fragile scaffolding over unresolved conflicts.