Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked U.S. President Donald Trump for broader military latitude in Lebanon and a defined timeline for ongoing negotiations with Beirut, according to a report aired Wednesday by Israel's Channel 12.

During a phone call between the two leaders, Netanyahu reportedly requested greater “freedom of action” for Israeli forces in Lebanon, along with a two-week deadline to advance talks aimed at stabilizing the situation along the northern border. 

Israel has argued that ongoing Hezbollah attacks targeting Israeli troops and northern communities are undermining the prospects for any lasting agreement. Officials have also voiced concern that Israel’s deterrence posture is eroding as it refrains from launching a large-scale response to repeated rocket fire.

According to the report, Israel is seeking Washington’s approval to move forward with a broader military campaign in Lebanon if no deal is reached by mid-May. However, Trump urged restraint during the call, warning against steps that could jeopardize the ceasefire, an unnamed Israeli source told the broadcaster.

The U.S. president reportedly pressed Netanyahu not to “take actions that could undermine the ceasefire,” reflecting Washington’s preference to contain the escalation and preserve ongoing diplomatic efforts.

Israel is also pushing for the Lebanese Armed Forces to take more decisive action against Hezbollah. But the same source cautioned that expectations remain limited, describing the situation as “very complex” and noting that it is difficult to envision the Lebanese army effectively curbing Hezbollah’s activities.

Netanyahu later briefed his restricted security cabinet on the call during a meeting on Wednesday. According to the report, he told ministers that Trump continues to view the ceasefire arrangements in Lebanon and Iran as interconnected, and is reluctant to see a renewed Israeli offensive before diplomatic efforts with Tehran are fully exhausted.

Even if negotiations with Lebanon make progress, Israeli assessments suggest that Hezbollah’s cross-border fire could persist in the near term, underscoring the fragile and uncertain nature of the current truce.

Trump said in an interview with Axios that he has urged the Israeli prime minister to limit military action in Lebanon to “surgical” strikes and to avoid any broader return to full-scale war.

“I told Netanyahu that he must carry out the order more carefully, not destroy the buildings,” Trump was quoted as saying. “He can’t do that. It is absolutely horrific and harms Israel’s image.”

The US president also voiced support for Lebanon, expressing what he described as admiration for the country and its leadership, and confidence in its resilience.

“Iran destroyed Lebanon,” he said. “Its agent, Hezbollah, destroyed Lebanon.”

Separately, an American official told Axios that Hezbollah is actively working to undermine ceasefire arrangements.

“Hezbollah is not a party to the ceasefire and is trying to sabotage it. Its strategy is clear: provoke and attack, then blame Israel for derailing negotiations and discrediting the Lebanese government,” the official said.

“We cannot expect Israel to bear the brunt of the attacks alone. This is not the Biden administration,” he added.