Trump pressures Netanyahu to pull Israeli forces out of Syria, Lebanon
US President Donald Trump has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw forces from southern Syria and Lebanon to prevent regional instability. Netanyahu has resisted the request, citing the necessity of maintaining security zones along Israel's borders.
Why it matters
This highlights a potential diplomatic rift between the US and Israel regarding regional military strategy and the post-Assad security landscape in the Middle East.
US President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to begin withdrawing Israeli forces from southern Syria and Lebanon during a phone call last week, according to a report by Axios, citing American and Israeli officials.According to the report, Trump warned that Israel's continued military presence in Syrian territory could fuel further instability."They don't want you there. You should redeploy," Trump told Netanyahu, according to a US official cited by Axios. The official added that Trump conveyed "the same" message regarding Israel's military deployment in southern Lebanon.The reported conversation took place a day after Trump met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Turkey, where the US administration continued efforts to push for a new security arrangement between Israel and Syria, according to the report.The White House declined to comment on the contents of the call but did not deny the account.A US official…
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