Trump admits he’s ‘not happy’ with Israel over Lebanon strikes, suggests Syria ‘take care of Hezbollah’
Former US President Donald Trump publicly criticized Israel’s military actions in Lebanon, calling them "too much" and suggesting Syria should handle Hezbollah instead. He emphasized his displeasure with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach, while maintaining a "great relationship" with him. The comments came amid tensions over a US-Iran peace deal and Israel’s escalation with Hezbollah. Israeli public opinion remains sharply divided over Netanyahu’s leadership in the conflict.
What changed
Trump’s direct criticism of Israel’s Lebanon campaign—including a call for Syria to intervene—marks a rare public rebuke, escalating his role in the diplomatic dispute.
Live updates
-
Trump criticizes Israel’s Lebanon strikes, urges Syria to act on Hezbollah
confidence 94%Former US President Donald Trump publicly criticized Israel’s military actions in Lebanon, calling them "too much" and suggesting Syria should handle Hezbollah instead. He emphasized his displeasure with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s approach, while maintaining a "great relationship" with him. The comments came amid tensions over a US-Iran peace deal and Israel’s escalation with Hezbollah. Israeli public opinion remains sharply divided over Netanyahu’s leadership in the conflict.
What's confirmed:
- Donald Trump stated he is "not happy" with Israel’s recent strikes in Lebanon, calling them "too much" and suggesting Syria should "take care of Hezbollah."
- Trump explicitly told Netanyahu to be "more responsible" regarding Lebanon, marking unusually blunt criticism from the former US president.
- Trump acknowledged a "great relationship" with Netanyahu despite his dissatisfaction with Israel’s military actions in Lebanon.
- Israeli citizens across the political spectrum are angry with Prime Minister Netanyahu over the interim US-Iran peace deal, viewing it as a threat to Israel’s security.
- Trump’s remarks were made during the G7 summit in France, where he linked Israel’s military engagement in Lebanon to the timing of the US-Iran agreement.
Still unconfirmed:
- Trump directly called out the IDF by name in his criticism, though this claim lacks corroboration beyond a single source.
- Trump described the Lebanon conflict as a "minor war" where Syria could partner with the US to confront Hezbollah if Israel fails to act decisively.
- Trump condemned Israel over civilian casualties in Lebanon, though specifics on his stance remain unclear beyond general disapproval of the strikes’ timing.