Middle East Crisis

Iran War
Trump confirms he lost it on Netanyahu: “Absolutely fucking crazy”

US President Donald Trump confirms that he got angry with Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday and called him “absolutely fucking crazy”. In the New York Post podcast Pod Force One, Trump says that in the conversation with the Israeli Prime Minister he demanded that the attacks on Lebanon stop.

– I got a little irritated by his constant fighting with Lebanon, says Trump, but at the same time emphasizes that he has a good relationship with “Bibi”.

– We have worked very well together. I really like Bibi. 

Strait of Hormuz
Trump underestimated Iran – despite years of simulations

US President Donald Trump underestimated Iran’s ability to close the Strait of Hormuz, despite years of simulations where the conclusion time and time again was that Iran would close the strait in the event of an attack. This is reported by the New York Times.

– Every single time, it was the Strait of Hormuz that was the focus first, without exception. We assumed that if you go to war with Iran, this would be their counter-movement, says Dennis Ross, a national security official under the Obama administration.

In mid-February, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps also conducted exercises along the Iranian coast, which in Iranian media were called “smart control of the Strait of Hormuz.” The exercises are said to have set off alarm bells in the White House, but for some unknown reason they were not taken seriously, the newspaper writes. 

Israel-Hezbollah
Netanyahu on the fight with Trump: “Tactical disagreement”

Donald Trump got angry again this week with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for the continued offensive in Lebanon. According to reports, Trump called Netanyahu a “fucking lunatic,” and the president confirmed during the day that he dropped it in a phone call without specifying what he said.

Now Netanyahu says that he and Trump have a “tactical disagreement” when it comes to the war, he says in an interview with CNBC.

He also says that the two leaders usually find a way forward to resolve differences.

– We can disagree in the morning and in the afternoon we have a common goal.