Donald Trump reportedly expressed strong anger towards Benjamin Netanyahu after the Israeli strike in Lebanon, according to reports by Fox News and Axios.
The US president said he spoke by phone with the Israeli prime minister and made his dissatisfaction clear in unusually strong terms.
“I told him, what the hell are you doing?” Trump told the US outlet.
According to the same reports, Trump also intends to call on Iran not to retaliate, as he seeks to prevent further escalation of tensions in the Middle East.
Axios, citing Trump’s remarks, reported that the US president was furious over the Israeli government’s decision to carry out the attack.
“Why did Bibi have to launch a fucking attack? I was very angry. I made that clear to him,” Trump reportedly said.
According to the same report, Trump criticised the Israeli prime minister, saying he “did not have good judgement” in this case and that he conveyed his displeasure to him directly.
Trump said he was shocked when his advisers called to brief him on the Israeli attack in Beirut and that he lost his temper with Netanyahu.
“It is so bad, I could not believe it. An hour before we sign the deal. We were supposed to sign the deal this morning, but the Israeli raid in Beirut delayed it,” Trump added.