Trump Suggests Syria Handle Hezbollah Instead of Israel

Donald Trump suggested that Syria take care of Hezbollah in Lebanon and not Israel. The statement increased pressure on Benjamin Netanyahu and reopened doubts about the direction of the Middle East conflict. The message also reflects Washington’s discomfort with how Israel is handling the war.

Trump spoke from Evian, where France hosts the G7 summit. There he insisted that Israel has been fighting Hezbollah for too long and that too many people have died. According to AFP coverage, the president also said that Netanyahu must be more responsible regarding Lebanon.

The proposal surprised observers because it brings Syria in as a possible actor in an already highly unstable front. Additionally, it adds to tensions over the agreement between the United States and Iran to close another chapter of the regional conflict. In that context, any presidential statement can alter diplomatic calculations.

What Did Trump Say About Syria and Hezbollah?

Trump stated that he suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah. He even said that, being honest, Syrians could do it better. His comment seeks to pressure Netanyahu and, at the same time, show that he wants to stop a prolonged war.

The U.S. president added that he is unhappy with how Israel has handled the crisis. He also stated that Netanyahu must be more responsible regarding Lebanon. The criticism was direct and public, something unusual among such close allies.

The statement carries more weight because Trump defended that Israel should not destroy entire buildings whenever it pursues a target. He had already expressed that idea before to journalists. With that line, he attempts to distance himself from an offensive that he considers too costly in civilian lives.

The background of his message is clear. Trump wants the war not to derail the agreement that the United States is pushing with Iran. Regional stability depends, in part, on the offensive in Lebanon not spiraling out of control.

According to the White House, the president seeks to keep negotiation channels open where possible. But the language used by Trump shows that diplomacy and political pressure go hand in hand. In his style, both tools blend without much separation.

Why Does Syria Appear in This Equation?

The mention of Syria introduces an unexpected twist. Trump said he trusts interim president Ahmed al Sharaa to take on more weight in this dispute. The Republican described his management as “fantastic” since he ousted Bashar al Asad in late 2024.

That approach is delicate because Syria is also trying to reposition itself after years of isolation. Al Sharaa seeks to extract the country from the Iranian axis, of which Asad’s regime was part. In that process, any role in Lebanon would carry enormous political weight.