Trump says Israel banned from bombing Lebanon further

Israeli soldiers
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Israel agreed to a Lebanon truce at the request of the US. -EPA

US President Donald Trump says the United States has ‌banned Israel from further bombing in Lebanon, ‌using an atypically harsher tone than usual with the longtime US ally Israel.

"Israel will not be bombing Lebanon any longer. They ‌are PROHIBITED from ‌doing ⁠so by the USA. Enough ​is enough!!!" Trump said in a social media post.

Trump also said any deal the United States reaches with Iran "is in no ⁠way subject ‌to Lebanon" ​but the US will "deal with" the militant ​Hezbollah situation ‌in an appropriate manner.

The US president also ​said the United States will get nuclear material from Iran.

"No money will exchange ​hands ​in any ​way, shape, or form."

Trump's posts ‌came after Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that passage for all commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz is "declared completely ​open" for the remaining period of the ​ceasefire.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said after the strait reopening announcement that  his country still aimed to dismantle Hezbollah despite the ceasefire in Lebanon.

Crushing Hezbollah "will not be achieved tomorrow," he said in a video message issued by his office.

"It requires sustained effort, patience and endurance, and it requires wise navigation of the diplomatic field," Netanyahu said.

Netanyahu went on to say that he had agreed to the "temporary ceasefire in Lebanon" at Trump's request.

The prime minister said Israel has destroyed about 90 per cent of Hezbollah's stockpile of rockets and missiles but added: "We have not yet completed our task."

He said Israel would take further measures to eliminate the remaining rockets and drones but did not give further details.

with DPA