TEL AVIV — US President Donald Trump’s veto of an Israeli strike on Hezbollah targets in Beirut, delivered in what was reportedly a furious phone call with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has deprived the Israeli leader of a central pillar of his reelection strategy, aides told Al-Monitor.

“This business with Lebanon proves that Trump is striving to end the war with Iran on all fronts,” a source close to Netanyahu told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity. “It puts Netanyahu’s strategy in jeopardy. It places all the achievements of the war so far in doubt, raises questions about Netanyahu’s ability to achieve any kind of victory — certainly not the ‘total victory’ he has marketed to the public since Oct. 7. And this also has a direct impact on the upcoming elections.”

Netanyahu’s associate was referring to the prime minister’s promise of total victory over Iran-backed Hamas after its Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed more than 1,000 people, as well as the subsequent wars against Hezbollah in Lebanon and its patron, Iran.

Beirut at heart of disagreement