U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that Israel would cease to exist without his support. Trump made the remarks amid escalating public disagreements with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Speaking alongside the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, at the G7 Summit, Trump stated, "Israel would not exist without the United States. Israel would not exist without me either, because no other president was willing to do what I have done."

"If I hadn't been involved, Israel would have been destroyed a long time ago."

Trump made these comments while urging Netanyahu to exercise greater caution regarding Israel's military actions in Lebanon. According to the US President, these strikes could jeopardize ongoing efforts to secure a peace agreement with Iran.

While Trump maintained that his relationship with Netanyahu remains strong, he warned the Israeli leader to show more restraint.

"My relationship with Bibi has been excellent, but now Bibi needs to be more responsible regarding Lebanon," Trump said.

He further commented on the situation in Lebanon, saying, "Lebanon was once a great country. It was a nation of professors, doctors, and lawyers. Great minds were in Lebanon. Now, it is in a terrible state."

Trump's statements follow recent reports that he was furious with Netanyahu after Israel launched an airstrike on Beirut just ahead of a planned agreement between the United States and Iran.

Meanwhile, Israel stated that the strike in the Lebanese capital targeted a Hezbollah position. Trump told Axios that he was blindsided when his advisors informed him of the attack, particularly since both sides had previously agreed to refrain from launching strikes against one another.

"It was very bad—I couldn't believe it. It happened just an hour before our agreement was set to be signed," Trump said.

During the fallout, Trump also accused Netanyahu of a lack of judgment.

"Why did Bibi have to carry out this terrible attack? I was furious. And I let him know," he told Axios.

On the other hand, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that any agreement with the United States would be conditional on the withdrawal of Israeli troops from parts of Lebanon occupied during the conflict.

"The war is not fully over until Israeli forces withdraw from the territories they occupied during this conflict," Araghchi stated.

However, a US official countered that the agreement does not include any clause requiring an Israeli withdrawal. Netanyahu has also maintained that Israel will remain in Lebanon for as long as necessary.