Beirut attack by Israel ‘should not have happened’: Trump

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United States President Donald Trump on Sunday said the Israeli strike on Beirut should not have taken place, particularly at a time when Washington was “very close” to reaching a peace agreement with Iran.
In a post on Social Truth, Trump said, “Israel has the right to defend itself against threats, but the attack it was responding to was very small and meaningless; nobody was hurt, injured, or killed, and it should not disrupt this important process.”
We are very close to a Deal that will bring peace to the region, including to Lebanon, and all sides should stand down.
Trump said a deal that could bring peace to the region, including Lebanon, was within reach and warned against actions that could derail the process.
“There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but there should also be no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel,” he added.
Trump said that this could be the beginning of a long and beautiful peace — Let’s not blow it.
Ghalibaf questions US commitment after Israeli strike in Beirut
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday questioned the United States’ willingness and ability to fulfil its commitments after the Israeli military reportedly carried out strikes in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district.
Israel struck Beirut’s southern suburbs for the second time in a week in response to what it said was Hezbollah fire at northern Israel, while its military also carried out broader strikes on southern Lebanon.
The latest escalation came despite expectations that a deal between the United States and Iran to end the Middle East war could be imminent, as Tehran insists a ceasefire in Lebanon must be part of any deal.
In a post on X, Ghalibaf said the Zionists’ incursion into Dahiyeh had once again demonstrated that “America either lacks the will to fulfil its commitments or the ability to do so”.
“By giving the green light to the regime, you cannot gain concessions,” the speaker said, describing the US and Israel’s “bad cop and good cop” approach as an outdated tactic.
“If you lack the will and ability to fulfil your commitments, speaking of continuing the path is not possible,” he added.
Earlier, it was reported that Iran’s final decision on a possible memorandum of understanding with the US is “under consideration,” a source familiar with the matter said on Sunday.
“Iran has not yet announced its final decision on the proposed memorandum of understanding,” the source told the Fars News Agency. “The review of the political, legal, and technical dimensions of the proposals is still ongoing,” he added.
According to Fars, the various aspects of the proposed deal is being discussed at both expert and decision-making levels.
US President Donald Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform Saturday that a deal with Iran is scheduled to be signed on Sunday.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, whose country has been mediating between the US and Iran, also said the deal could be finalised in the next 24 hours.
Iran, however, said the agreement will not be signed on Sunday, but may be inked in the coming days.
The Pakistan-mediated diplomatic process has focused on ending hostilities between Tehran and Washington, reopening the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic and reaching a consensus on Iran’s nuclear program.
Iranian officials have repeatedly said a large portion of the proposed text has already been agreed upon, while accusing the US of slowing progress through shifting positions and contradictory statements.
Israeli finance minister renews demand
Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich reiterated his demand Saturday for the destruction of 10 buildings in Beirut’s Dahiyeh district for every rocket fired at Israel from Lebanon.
In a post on the US social media company X, Smotrich referred to negotiations between the US and Iran, and claimed that Hezbollah should not be allowed to exploit the situation to attack northern Israel.
He argued that every rocket or drone attack targeting Israel should be met with the bombing of 10 buildings in Dahiyeh, a Hezbollah stronghold in the southern suburbs of Beirut. He demanded that the action be carried out “immediately tonight”.
The Israeli military, meanwhile, said sirens were activated in several communities in northern Israel following rocket fire from Lebanon.
It said the rockets targeted Israeli forces operating in occupied areas of southern Lebanon and claimed that no injuries were reported.
Israeli media also reported earlier that a drone launched from Lebanon crossed the border, triggering sirens in two communities in northern Israel.