Donald Trump lashed out at Benjamin Netanyahu for bombing Lebanon just hours before a long-awaited peace deal between the US and Iran was expected to be signed.
The US president told Mr Netanyahu he had “no f—ing judgment” after Israeli forces struck southern Beirut, killing at least three people on Sunday morning.
“Why did Bibi have to do a f—ing attack? I was so p—ed off,” he told US news site Axios. “I let him know. He has no f—ing judgment. I let him know that.”
Shortly afterwards, Mr Netanyahu shared an image of himself and Mr Trump holding hands, wishing him “continued strength and vigour” on his 80th birthday.
Mr Trump announced late on Saturday that a deal to end the war with Iran would be signed today, although Iranian officials insisted no final agreement had been approved.
On Sunday at around 5.30pm, he told Fox News he expected it to be signed within the next two to three hours.
Tehran has made a full ceasefire in Lebanon an important part of its demands, although it did not appear in a draft memorandum of understanding seen by Reuters.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, a top Iranian negotiator, said Israel’s attack showed that the US “lacks the will” to reach a settlement.
Israel said it was not party to the US-Iran deal and that it had attacked Hezbollah targets in the Lebanese capital after three projectiles were fired at northern Israel.