Israel's Netanyahu Discusses 'Iranian threat' with Trump
US President Donald Trump and Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu take part in an announcement of Trump's Middle East peace plan in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on January 28, 2020. ©Photo by MANDEL NGAN / AFP

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu discussed the "Iranian threat" in a call with US president-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday as the wars in Gaza and Lebanon show no sign of easing.

Saudi state media also reported that the Gulf heavyweight's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, spoke to Trump to congratulate him.

A trip to Riyadh was Trump's first foreign visit after he took office in 2017.

Netanyahu's office said in a statement the Israeli premier "congratulated Trump on his election victory, and the two agreed to work together for Israel's security.

"The two also discussed the Iranian threat," it added.

Hezbollah, which is backed by Iran, said Wednesday tens of thousands of its militants were ready to fight Israel, adding that the US election result would have no bearing on the war in Lebanon.

Israel's military also said a missile was fired into southern Israel from central Gaza, where it has battled the Tehran-backed Hamas group since Palestinian militants launched a deadly attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.

In a televised speech marking 40 days since his predecessor Hassan Nasrallah was killed in a strike, new Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem said: "We have tens of thousands of trained resistance combatants" ready to fight.

His address aired after Trump's victory was announced, but had been recorded earlier.

Qassem said whoever won the election would have no impact on any possible ceasefire deal for Lebanon.

"What will stop this... war is the battlefield" he said, citing fighting in south Lebanon and Hezbollah attacks on Israel.

Netanyahu earlier feted Trump's "huge victory" as "history's greatest comeback". The United States is Israel's top ally and military backer, and the election came at a critical time for the Middle East.

While maintaining the steady flow of aid to Israel, US President Joe Biden's administration had for months piled pressure on Netanyahu to agree to a truce.

Analysts say Netanyahu wanted a Trump return, given their longstanding personal friendship and the American's hawkishness on Israel's arch-foe Iran.

Jay Deshmukh, Layal Abou Rahal with AFP

 

 

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