Netanyahu pulls away from Trump. The Israeli premier is no longer the most faithful ally of the US President. Trump invites him to respect the truce signed in April, but he only half complies: he stops bombing Beirut but continues raids in southern Lebanon.
In early June, the Israeli army attacks Beirut and all hell breaks loose. Tehran responds with missile strikes against Israel, and the troops with the Star of David retaliate in kind. Donald Trump tries to fix things: he doesn't want to "see another attack" against Iran because "we are very close to an agreement to end the war." But Benjamin Netanyahu doesn't listen. He once again launches missiles and drones against the ayatollahs' country in response to the bombings suffered by Israel.
The world fears a total war in the Middle East. Tension explodes again, oil prices rise, international stock markets crash. Donald Trump, usually quick to use the gun, works for a new ceasefire, asks Israel and Iran to "immediately stop shooting." The answer is yes, he succeeds. He addresses the Israeli premier: "If I tell him to do something, he does it."
Yet Netanyahu keeps his finger on the trigger. He warns: "Iran and Hezbollah are weaker than ever and our battle with them is not over yet." In fact, on Tuesday, June 9, the Israeli army, hunting for Hezbollah allies of Iran, orders the evacuation of Tyre and bombs the city along with other localities in southern Lebanon. Conclusion: Netanyahu pulls away from Trump, partially suspends the raids, asserts his political and military autonomy. He likely wants to count at the peace negotiation table with the ayatollahs.
Trump is furious with the ally with whom he started the war against Iran on February 28 and with whom he had already struck a first blow in June 2025 by bombing the Islamic Republic's nuclear sites. In a phone call in early June, he supposedly used very harsh and offensive tones against the prime minister: "You're a fucking idiot. You'd be in prison if it weren't for me. I'm saving your ass. Everyone hates you now. Everyone hates Israel for this." He allegedly shouted: "What the fuck are you doing?" Netanyahu pulls away from Trump and the US president reacts. But the imperialist power politics of the US doesn't work.
The strategic and unshakeable alliance between the United States and Israel is cracking. Both Netanyahu and Trump are increasingly alone. The New York magnate first cut the historic alliance with European allies by imposing tariffs, reducing US commitment to NATO, accusing Old Continent states of not helping him in the conflict against Iran. He even resorted to insults with words like "cowards." He even threatened to annex neighboring Canada, another historic US ally. Result: the great North American country has moved closer to the European Union.
The entire US global alliance policy is faltering. In the Middle East, things are not going well at all with Arab countries. Gulf nations, targeted by Iranian missiles and drones, have seen oil fields, airports, even skyscrapers hit. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran to oil and gas exports has dealt a severe blow to their finances. Thus, security regarding American military protection wavers: some Gulf countries have asked Ukraine for defense help, and others have turned to Pakistan.
The situation is not idyllic even in the Far East. Japan, South Korea, the Philippines are harmed by tariffs and feel increasingly threatened by the expansionism of China and the bellicosity of North Korea, which possesses a substantial nuclear arsenal. Thus, even among Asian allies, skepticism toward Trump has erupted, and a race to rearm has begun. Japan, a great economic and technological power, might even entertain the idea of its own atomic deterrence to defend itself.
But the center of the crisis remains Iran. An American Apache helicopter is shot down by Tehran, and on Tuesday, June 9, the conflict flares up again. Washington, in "self-defense," attacks various positions near the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Republic, again in "self-defense," launches missiles and drones against US bases in neighboring Arab countries. Then a halt to arms. But Netanyahu's bellicosity prevails. Trump launches a new "hard" attack on Wednesday, June 10, because Iran is dragging its feet on an agreement that is "fully negotiated." Iranian military positions in the Strait of Hormuz area are especially hit. Tehran retaliates by bombing US bases in Jordan, Kuwait, and Bahrain. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps promises "hell" to the US.
Rodolfo Ruocco
Netanyahu pulls away from Trump and pushes him to strike Iran
