President Trump directed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw military forces from Syria and accelerate pullouts from Lebanon during a phone call Thursday, according to U.S. and Israeli officials familiar with the conversation.
Trump told Netanyahu that Israel's military presence in Syrian territory fuels regional tensions and risks escalation. "They don't want you there. You should redeploy," Trump said, according to a U.S. official. The same message applied to Lebanon, the official added.
Netanyahu's office responded by emphasizing that security remained paramount. "The Prime Minister, on his part, raised the need for security zones along Israel's borders," his office said in a statement.
The call came a day after Trump met with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa at a NATO summit in Turkey. The Trump administration had pursued a deal with Israel over several months to establish a phased withdrawal from Syrian territory, which Israel has controlled since the Assad regime collapsed in December 2024. Officials say Netanyahu rejected the proposed terms, which would have required gradual military pullback.
Israeli forces currently occupy large portions of southern Lebanon and southern Syria. The government argues this presence prevents attacks like the October 7 invasion. Some Israeli officials want permanent control over these areas, with some advocating for Jewish settlements.
Recent weeks have seen escalating friction in southern Syria, where civilians have protested the Israeli military presence and clashed with soldiers on the ground.
On the Lebanon front, Israel and Lebanon signed a framework agreement weeks ago requiring Israel to withdraw from two designated "pilot zones" in the south and allow Lebanese military deployment. Israel has not yet pulled out from either zone. Lebanese officials demand a fixed timeline for broader withdrawals, while Israeli commanders say they need time to confirm that Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure have been removed. Lebanon contends the U.S. military should serve as the arbiter of this verification.
U.S. mediators met Tuesday in Rome with Israeli and Lebanese diplomats to discuss implementing the framework. The Lebanese government has grown impatient, wanting the withdrawal process to begin immediately.
Netanyahu faces significant domestic pressure as he prepares for an election crucial to his political future. Israeli government hawks want indefinite control of the occupied territories and show little appetite for concessions on withdrawal timelines.
The White House declined to comment on the Trump-Netanyahu call but did not deny the account. A U.S. official told reporters that Trump maintains a strong relationship with Netanyahu and remains committed to supporting Israel.
Author James Rodriguez: "Trump's direct push on troop withdrawals signals he sees the occupation as a liability to broader Middle East stability, but Netanyahu's domestic political constraints make compliance unlikely."
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