US President Donald Trump said that Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to stop fighting, adding that Iran talks were moving rapidly after seeming to falter over Israel's Lebanon offensive. Trump said he had spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and had a "very good call" through unnamed representatives with the Hezbollah militant group. Netanyahu agreed to call off a military raid on Beirut while Hezbollah agreed "all shooting will stop," Trump said on his Truth Social network.

But there were fresh signs of tensions between the United States and Israel over the situation in the Middle East. The two countries launched a joint offensive against Iran on February 28. Netanyahu appeared to cast doubt on any truce with Hezbollah -- while a report in the US news outlet Axios said that Trump called the Israeli premier "crazy" and accused him of putting Iran peace talks at risk. Trump's comments came after Iran's news agency Tasnim reported Tehran had suspended dialogue with mediators in protest of Israel's expanding offensive in Lebanon against Iran's ally Hezbollah. 

"I had a very productive call with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, of Israel, and there will be no Troops going to Beirut, and any Troops that are on their way, have already been turned back," Trump wrote on Monday. "Likewise, through highly placed Representatives, I had a very good call with Hezbollah, and they agreed that all shooting will stop -- That Israel will not attack them, and they will not attack Israel." 

Credit: Independent News Pakistan (INP)