Live Update arrow right icon From the Liveblog of Friday, April 17, 2026

US official stresses Israel ‘preserves right to self-defense’ after Trump said it was barred from striking in Lebanon

By Jacob Magid 17 April 2026, 10:37 pm
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Jacob Magid is The Times of Israel's US bureau chief

After US Donald Trump declared Israel was “PROHIBITED” from bombing Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, a US official tells The Times of Israel that the “ceasefire agreement between Lebanon and Israel clearly states that Israel will not carry out any offensive military operations against Lebanese targets but preserves its right to self-defense against planned, imminent, or ongoing attacks.”

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