Key Facts

• US President Donald Trump described the Israeli strikes on Beirut as "vicious" and questioned Israel's use of force, suggesting that Syria could handle Hezbollah with fewer civilian casualties.
• The Israeli strikes on Beirut were carried out in response to Hezbollah's presence in the area, which Israel views as a threat to its national security.
• Trump made these comments as the BBC's State Department correspondent Tom Bateman analyzed the implications of the President's unusually sharp criticism of Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• The criticism comes amid heightened tensions in the region, with Iran and Israel having traded missile strikes in recent weeks, raising concerns about a wider conflict.
• Trump's comments mark a rare public rift between the US and Israel, with the two countries typically enjoying close diplomatic and military ties.