Netanyahu Defies Trump, Launches Airstrikes on Iran After Ceasefire Breach
Israeli PM Netanyahu defied U.S. President Trump’s explicit warning and launched retaliatory airstrikes on military targets in central and western Iran on June 8, 2026, after Iran fired missiles at northern Israel. Trump had urged restraint, claiming a U.S.-Iran peace deal was imminent. The strikes shattered an April 8 ceasefire and escalated the conflict, prompting fresh Iranian strikes on Israel. Trump, humiliated by the defiance, called for an immediate ceasefire. The incident underscores deepening U.S.-Israel tensions over Middle East policy.
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Trump Humiliated as Netanyahu Defies Orders, Strikes Iran
President Donald Trump was publicly defied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Iran launched missile strikes on Israel, breaking an April 8 ceasefire. Trump told Axios and the Financial Times he would order Netanyahu not to retaliate, insisting 'I call all the shots.' Hours later, the Israeli Air Force struck Iranian military targets. Trump then posted on Truth Social urging an immediate ceasefire, later claiming both sides sought peace. Iran suspended attacks on Israel but threatened to resume if Israel strikes Lebanon. A senior Israeli official said strikes halted at Trump's request, but the article concludes Trump was unable or unwilling to prevent Netanyahu's initial retaliation, highlighting a major diplomatic humiliation.
The New RepublicTrump Humiliated as Netanyahu Defies Orders, Strikes Iran
President Donald Trump was publicly defied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Iran launched missile strikes on Israel, breaking an April ceasefire. Trump told Axios and the Financial Times he would order Netanyahu not to retaliate, insisting 'I call all the shots.' Hours later, the Israeli Air Force struck Iranian military targets anyway. Trump then posted on Truth Social demanding an immediate ceasefire, later claiming both sides sought peace. Iran suspended attacks on Israel but threatened to resume if Israeli strikes on Lebanon continued. A senior Israeli official said Israel halted further strikes at Trump's request, but the sequence of events exposed Trump's inability to control Netanyahu. The article also notes stalled negotiations and Iranian warnings that U.S. bases are legitimate targets.
The New RepublicTrump Humiliated as Netanyahu Defies Orders on Iran Strikes
President Donald Trump was publicly defied by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after Iran launched missile strikes on Israel, breaking an April 8 ceasefire. Trump told Axios and the Financial Times he would order Netanyahu not to retaliate, insisting 'I call all the shots.' Hours later, the Israeli Air Force struck Iranian military targets anyway. Trump then posted on Truth Social demanding both sides stop shooting, and later claimed a ceasefire was imminent. Iran said it would suspend attacks if Israel stopped strikes on Lebanon. A senior Israeli official stated Israel halted further strikes at Trump's request, but the sequence revealed Trump's inability to control Netanyahu's actions. The article also notes Trump avoided detailed questions about the conflict, while Iranian and IAEA officials reported no tangible progress in nuclear negotiations.
The New RepublicBBC Expert: Trump Will Be Furious After Israel Defies Him to Bomb Iran
BBC North America editor Sarah Smith stated that former President Donald Trump will be furious after Israel launched retaliatory airstrikes on Iran, defying his explicit warning not to escalate. The strikes targeted central and western Iran early Monday, following Iranian missile attacks on northern Israel on Sunday. Smith noted that Israel had already angered the White House by bombing Lebanon, despite Trump's claims that a US-Iran peace deal is near. Trump had reportedly told Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that retaliation was unnecessary since Iranian missiles caused no damage. Smith recalled a similar incident a year ago when Trump angrily swore at Netanyahu for violating a ceasefire. The analysis highlights growing tension between Trump and Netanyahu over Middle East policy.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)BBC Expert Says Trump Will Be Furious Over Israeli Strikes on Iran
According to BBC North America editor Sarah Smith, former President Donald Trump will be furious that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defied his explicit warning and launched retaliatory airstrikes on targets in central and western Iran. The strikes came after Iran fired missiles at northern Israel on Sunday. Smith noted that Trump had been clear with Netanyahu not to retaliate, fearing it would derail ongoing US-Iran peace negotiations that Trump claims are close to completion. This is not the first time Netanyahu has defied Trump; a year ago, Trump angrily criticized Netanyahu for firing missiles at Iran in breach of a ceasefire. Israel had also recently bombed Lebanon, angering the White House. Smith stated that Trump has not yet commented but is expected to be furious, as he believes Israel's actions imperil a potential US-Iran agreement.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Netanyahu Defies Trump, Launches Israeli Airstrikes on Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has defied U.S. President Donald Trump by launching retaliatory airstrikes on targets in central and western Iran early Monday morning. The strikes came hours after Trump claimed 'I call the shots' and urged restraint, saying he did not want 'an additional attack tonight.' The Israeli action follows Iranian missile strikes on northern Israel on Sunday, which Trump said were 'not going to help negotiations.' Netanyahu's decision is a major blow to Trump's hopes of striking a peace deal with Iran to end the war that began on February 28. Trump had previously told the Financial Times that Netanyahu 'won't have any choice' but to agree to any peace deal. Iran subsequently launched fresh strikes on Israel on Monday morning, threatening further escalation in the Middle East conflict.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Netanyahu Defies Trump, Launches Israeli Air Strikes on Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu defied U.S. President Donald Trump by launching retaliatory air strikes on military targets in central and western Iran early Monday morning. The strikes came hours after Trump claimed 'I call the shots' and urged restraint, saying he did not want 'an additional attack tonight.' The Israeli action is a major blow to Trump's hopes of striking a peace deal with Iran to end the war that began on February 28. Tehran had launched missiles on northern Israel on Sunday, which Trump said was 'not going to help negotiations.' Despite Trump's assertion that Netanyahu 'won't have any choice' but to agree to any peace deal, Netanyahu ignored the president's call to hold off. Iran subsequently launched its own fresh strikes on Israel on Monday morning, threatening further escalation in the Middle East conflict.
HuffPost UK - Athena2 - All Entries (Public)Trump asks Netanyahu not to strike Iran; says 'very close' to peace deal
U.S. President Donald Trump has asked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to retaliate against Iran's latest missile barrage, warning that a strike could jeopardize ongoing negotiations for a peace deal to end the three-month conflict. According to Axios, Trump spoke to Netanyahu after Iran launched missiles at Israel on June 7, 2026. Trump also urged Iran to return to the negotiating table, stating, 'You've shot your missiles, that's enough. Get back to the table and make a deal.' Trump told Fox News an agreement could be signed early the following week. He criticized Israel's strikes on Beirut and said Netanyahu would likely have to accept whatever agreement the U.S. reaches with Iran, asserting he 'calls the shots.' Netanyahu pushed back but ultimately 'pseudo agreed' to stand down, according to a U.S. official.
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