Trump urges Netanyahu to be ‘more responsible’ on Lebanon, suggests Syria can handle Hezbollah
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (June 16) criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's military strikes in Lebanon, saying the Israeli leader needed
US President Donald Trump on Tuesday (June 16) criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over Israel's military strikes in Lebanon, saying the Israeli leader needed to be "more responsible" as efforts to secure a broader regional peace agreement moved forward. Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian, France, Trump said Israel's campaign against Hezbollah had gone on for too long and resulted in excessive civilian casualties. "Israel's fighting Hezbollah too long. And too many people are being killed. And you don't have to knock down an apartment house every time you're looking for somebody because there are a lot of people in those apartment houses and they're not all Hezbollah," Trump said. Suggests Syria can handle Hezbollah Trump also suggested that Syria should play a larger role in dealing with Hezbollah, arguing that Damascus could address militant activity without causing widespread destruction. Trump said: "If Israel can't do the job without killing everyone, he'll do the job. Syria will do the job." The remarks marked one of Trump's strongest public criticisms of Israeli military operations in Lebanon since the latest regional conflict began. ‘I didn't like that he did an attack’ Asked whether he was frustrated with Netanyahu, Trump denied any major rift between the two leaders but acknowledged dissatisfaction with a recent Israeli operation.
"No. We had a great relationship. We're talking about some end details. I didn't like that he did an attack; you know, there was a very minor little thing with some drones that were released and he ended up doing a very... I saw that attack. I saw where that bomb went," Trump said. Trump nevertheless reiterated Washington's support for Israel and highlighted his administration's longstanding backing of the country. "Without us, without the United States, there would be no Israel. Without me, there would be no Israel because no other president was willing to do what I did," he said. "But now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon." Beirut strikes spark concern ahead of Iran deal Trump's comments came after Israeli strikes targeted Beirut on Sunday, only hours before the United States and Iran were expected to finalise a peace agreement aimed at ending months of conflict across West Asia. Following the strikes, Trump warned on Truth Social that the attacks "should not have happened" and suggested they risked undermining the diplomatic breakthrough with Tehran. Earlier, Trump had announced that a deal with Iran was "complete" and would formally be signed in Switzerland on Friday.
The BriefWire