US Vice-President JD Vance has said Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has "certainly gotten some things wrong", as tensions between Washington and Jerusalem become more visible during the conflict with Iran.
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In an interview with CBS News, Vance said Netanyahu "aggressively asserts the interests of his country" but that Israeli and American interests are not always aligned. He declined to provide specific examples, saying such discussions are often better handled privately.
The comments are the clearest public acknowledgement yet from the Trump administration that relations with Israel have come under strain in recent weeks.
Growing differences over Lebanon and Iran
President Donald Trump has reportedly expressed frustration with Israeli military operations in Lebanon, which have complicated efforts to negotiate an end to the wider conflict with Iran.
The US and Iran exchanged strikes for a second consecutive day overnight, putting pressure on a ceasefire that has been in place since April. Trump has said Tehran has taken "too long to make a deal", while renewed hostilities were also linked to fighting in Lebanon involving the Iranian-backed group Hezbollah.
According to Axios, Trump recently described Netanyahu as "effing crazy" during a phone call, saying he was irritated by Israel's continued military actions in Lebanon.
"Sometimes we have interests that are perfectly aligned and sometimes we have interests that are misaligned," Vance said.
"Where that diverges, we — unfortunately for the Israelis — have to choose the side of the American people."
Conflict extends beyond Iran
Israel has carried out extensive strikes across Lebanon and occupied parts of southern Lebanon as part of its campaign against Hezbollah. The group began attacking northern Israel after an earlier Israeli strike killed Iran's supreme leader, according to Israeli and Lebanese accounts of the conflict.
Lebanon's health ministry says at least 3,696 people have been killed, while Israeli authorities say 30 soldiers and four civilians have died in fighting on both sides of the border.
Iran is seeking to include Lebanon in any broader peace agreement, while Israel argues Lebanon was not covered by the ceasefire reached two months ago.
Domestic political pressure
The dispute comes as both leaders face domestic political challenges.
Trump is pushing for a deal that would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and curb Iran's nuclear programme, while opinion polls suggest the conflict is becoming less popular among American voters ahead of November's midterm elections.
Netanyahu is also preparing for elections later this year and must persuade Israeli voters that his strategy against Iran and its regional allies is succeeding.
The Israeli leader has sought to minimise reports of a rift with Washington.
"Sometimes we have, as in the best of families, you have these tactical disagreements," Netanyahu told CNBC last week. "We always find a way to work them out, and we do so as great friends."
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Adapted by ASEAN Now. Source 12 June 2026