Israel and Hezbollah continued to trade strikes on Friday as the wider conflict in the Middle East showed no sign of easing. In remarks to US media, Donald Trump said he had asked Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu to be more “low-key” in Lebanon.
The comments came as Netanyahu said there was no ceasefire in Lebanon, after Israel launched fresh strikes. The latest exchange added to concerns that the fighting could spread further, even as international attention remained focused on the war in Iran and the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump also cast doubt on the prospects for a ceasefire linked to the Iran conflict, pointing to the ongoing disruption around the vital waterway. The Strait of Hormuz remains a key route for global energy shipments, and its continued closure has heightened anxiety in the region and beyond.
Trump targets right-wing media figures
In a separate intervention, Trump attacked several prominent right-wing commentators who have recently criticised the war in Iran. He singled out Tucker Carlson, Megyn Kelly, Candace Owens and Alex Jones, saying they were “not ‘MAGA,’ they’re losers”.
The four had been reliable supporters of Trump for much of his presidency, but in recent weeks they have spoken out against the war. Trump said that, while he could win them back if he wanted to, he did not return their calls because he was too busy with “World and Country Affairs”. He added that after repeated attempts, they became “nasty”.
The remarks underline the political strain within Trump’s wider base over the conflict in Iran. Some of his former allies in conservative media have questioned the war more openly, creating a rare public split over an issue that has become increasingly central to the administration’s foreign policy focus.
Rising pressure across the region
The day’s developments reflected a broader sense of instability across the Middle East, with Israel and Hezbollah still trading attacks and no clear diplomatic breakthrough in sight. Trump’s request for Netanyahu to act more cautiously in Lebanon suggests concerns in Washington about the risk of escalation, even as Israeli strikes continue.
Netanyahu’s insistence that there is no ceasefire in Lebanon further narrowed hopes for any immediate pause in the fighting. For now, the situation remains volatile, with the war in Iran, the conflict along the Israel-Lebanon front, and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz all contributing to a tense and unpredictable regional crisis.
