Trump presses Netanyahu to pull Israeli forces back from Syria, Lebanon
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump pressed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to start withdrawing Israeli troops from parts of Syria and Lebanon during a phone call last Thursday, warning that the deployments could increase the danger of a broader regional escalation, Axios reported, citing U.S. and Israeli officials.
Trump was especially concerned about the Israel Defense Forces’ presence in southeastern Syria, according to the report, and told Netanyahu that keeping troops there was becoming increasingly risky.
“They don’t want you there. You should redeploy,” Trump reportedly told the Israeli leader, according to Axios.
Netanyahu resisted the request, maintaining that Israeli security zones in Syria and Lebanon are vital to protecting the country.
The reported disagreement emerged as Israeli and Lebanese officials held talks in Rome on Monday focused on continued coordination surrounding Israel’s phased withdrawal from southern Lebanon.
In a separate development, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said during a visit to the Czech Republic that the Israel Defense Forces were preparing to leave two pilot zones in southern Lebanon as the process moves forward.
Neither the White House nor the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office had publicly addressed the Axios report by the time of publication.
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