President Donald Trump publicly criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu again on Tuesday, arguing that Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon has gone too far and suggesting Syria may be better positioned to confront the terrorist group.
The remarks, delivered during the G7 summit in France, marked the latest sign of growing tensions between Trump and Netanyahu as the administration pushes for a broader diplomatic settlement involving Iran, Lebanon, and regional security issues.
While Trump emphasized that his relationship with the Israeli leader remains intact, he made clear that he disagrees with Israel’s recent military operations and believes they risk undermining larger negotiations underway in the Middle East.
Trump criticizes Israeli tactics
Speaking to reporters, Trump questioned Israel’s use of force in Lebanon and expressed frustration over civilian casualties caused by strikes targeting Hezbollah positions.
Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst reported that Trump specifically criticized the destruction of residential buildings during Israeli operations.
“You don’t have to knock down an apartment house every time you’re looking for somebody,” Trump said. “There are a lot of people in those apartment houses and they’re not all Hezbollah.”
Trump also referenced Israeli strikes in Beirut that reportedly occurred as the administration was working to advance negotiations involving Iran.
“I did not like that, I let them know that,” the president said.
The comments followed earlier reports that Trump personally pressured Netanyahu to delay or cancel planned operations in Lebanon out of concern they could derail ongoing diplomatic efforts.
Syria floated as alternative
Perhaps Trump’s most unexpected proposal involved Syria.
The president suggested that Syria’s new government should take primary responsibility for confronting Hezbollah rather than relying on continued Israeli military operations.
“I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah because, to be honest with you, I think they’d do a better job of doing it,” Trump told reporters.
Trump also appeared to express confidence in Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, the former jihadist commander who once fought against U.S. forces in Iraq. Since the 2024 overthrow of longtime Syrian ruler Bashar al-Assad, al-Sharaa’s government has sought closer ties with Western nations and key Gulf Arab allies while attempting to stabilize the country after years of civil war.
“If Israel can’t do the job without killing everyone else, he’ll do the job,” Trump said, referring to al-Sharaa.
The suggestion represents a notable shift from decades of regional dynamics. Under Assad, Syria served as one of Iran’s closest allies and functioned as a critical transit route for weapons and support flowing to Hezbollah.
The new Syrian government has attempted to distance itself from Tehran and reposition the country diplomatically.
Lebanon dispute tied to Iran talks
The disagreement between Washington and Jerusalem is increasingly connected to the administration’s effort to secure a broader agreement with Iran.
Trump has argued that continued escalation in Lebanon threatens progress toward a final settlement that could address multiple regional issues, including Iran’s nuclear program, sanctions relief, maritime security, and ongoing conflicts involving Iranian-backed proxy groups.
According to multiple reports, Israel has not been fully briefed on key details of the emerging U.S.-Iran framework agreement, fueling additional friction between the two allies.
Iranian negotiators have also pushed for Lebanon-related issues to be included in broader discussions surrounding any final agreement.
The result is a growing overlap between Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah and the administration’s diplomatic strategy toward Iran.
Netanyahu rejects limits on operations
Netanyahu has shown little interest in scaling back Israel’s operations.
Israeli officials have repeatedly argued that Hezbollah remains a direct threat to northern Israeli communities and that military pressure is necessary to prevent future attacks.
The prime minister has maintained that Israel will continue operating in southern Lebanon for as long as security conditions require.
That position increasingly appears to conflict with the White House’s desire to stabilize the region and advance diplomatic negotiations.
Multiple outlets have described tense exchanges between the two leaders, including one phone call in which Trump later admitted using profanity while criticizing Israeli military operations.
Growing divide emerges
Disagreements between American and Israeli leaders are not uncommon, particularly during periods of conflict in the Middle East.
What makes the current dispute notable is how public it has become.
Trump has traditionally been viewed as one of Israel’s strongest supporters, particularly during his first term when his administration recognized Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, brokered the Abraham Accords, and adopted a hardline approach toward Iran.
His recent criticism of Netanyahu, therefore, carries additional significance.
The administration continues to support Israel’s right to defend itself, but Trump is increasingly signaling that military operations in Lebanon could jeopardize broader strategic objectives.
Whether his proposal for Syria to confront Hezbollah gains any support remains uncertain.
For now, the comments underscore a widening disagreement between Washington and Jerusalem over how to end the conflict in Lebanon — and how much risk is acceptable as the administration pursues what it hopes will become a larger Middle East settlement.
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