Trump: Syria Could Do Better Job Taking Out Hezbollah Than Israel

According to Breitbart News, Trump expressed frustration with the duration and conduct of Israeli operations against the Iran-backed terrorist organization, stating that Israel has been fighting Hezbollah for too long with excessive civilian casualties. The President took issue with the destruction of residential buildings in pursuit of terrorist targets, noting that many innocent people live in those structures and are not affiliated with Hezbollah.

The President made clear his dissatisfaction with Israel’s approach to the Lebanon situation and its engagement with Hezbollah during multiple G7 appearances. He argued that Israeli forces should have completed their mission more rapidly, warning that prolonged operations cast a negative shadow over the larger diplomatic achievement of the peace agreement with Iran.

Trump was particularly irritated by an Israeli airstrike on Beirut that occurred just two hours before the signing of the Iran peace agreement. He indicated that Syria’s government, now led by former al-Qaeda terrorist President Ahmed al-Sharaa, could handle the Hezbollah elimination more efficiently than Israeli forces have managed.

The President proposed allowing Syria to take responsibility for addressing the Hezbollah threat, asserting that al-Sharaa is highly capable and has been cooperative on American security priorities. Breitbart News reports that Trump stated Syria could accomplish the mission if Israel cannot complete it without extensive collateral damage.

Lebanon Operations and Displacement Crisis

Israel launched its invasion of Lebanon as part of the broader conflict with Iran that commenced in late February. Israeli officials justified the operation by citing the unacceptable security threat that Hezbollah presence in southern Lebanon posed to northern Israeli communities. The Israel Defense Forces initially concentrated operations in known Hezbollah-controlled areas but subsequently expanded deep into Lebanese territory, conducting strikes on Beirut itself.

The military campaign has displaced more than one million people, according to international estimates. The United Nations calculated on Tuesday that Israeli operations have forced 1.4 million Lebanese from their homes, including approximately 16,000 pregnant women. These figures accumulated despite resistance from many Lebanese residents, particularly Christian communities, who refused Israeli evacuation orders and remained in their ancestral villages, leading to civilian fatalities.

Iran Peace Agreement Context

Trump’s Lebanon remarks came in the context of discussing the peace agreement between America and Iran that was reportedly e-signed late Monday, ending Operation Epic Fury. The military engagement, which began in February, aimed to degrade Iran’s capacity to threaten neighboring states. A formal signing ceremony is scheduled for Switzerland on Friday, with participation from President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed-Bagher Ghalibaf.

According to the President’s Sunday announcement, the agreement will fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz and terminate active military hostilities between Washington and Tehran. Subsequent reporting indicates the deal establishes a 60-day period to negotiate Iranian demands for sanctions relief and American requirements that Iran abandon its illicit nuclear development, particularly its extensive uranium enrichment program.

Israeli Government Rejects Withdrawal

Significant uncertainty remains regarding whether the Iran agreement addresses the Lebanon situation. Iranian officials have claimed the deal mandates an end to Israel’s Lebanese operations, but Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government has forcefully rejected those assertions.

Defense Minister Israel Katz declared Monday that Israel will not compromise on security interests or citizen protection and will not withdraw from security zones. He emphasized that both he and Netanyahu are pursuing a clear policy maintaining IDF presence in security zones throughout Lebanon, Syria, and Gaza without any time restrictions, protecting border areas and Israeli communities from jihadist elements.

Katz specified that these zones would be cleared of local residents, with all terrorist infrastructure destroyed, including houses in contact-line villages that served as terrorist outposts.

Syria’s New Government Stays Neutral

Al-Sharaa’s Syrian government has largely avoided involvement in the Iran conflict. The current Damascus administration consists of former members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, an al-Qaeda offshoot that seized power in December 2024 after forcing Iran-backed dictator Bashar Assad to flee Syria, ending the country’s decade-long civil war. Assad had maintained power throughout the conflict with Iranian backing.

With information from Breitbart News