Washington, D.C. [U.S.], July 15 (ANI): U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to begin withdrawing Israeli military forces from southern Syria and Lebanon during a telephone conversation last week, according to an Axios report citing U.S. and Israeli officials.
According to the report, Trump warned that Israel’s continued military presence in Syrian territory could increase regional tensions.
“They don’t want you there. You should redeploy,” Trump told Netanyahu, according to a U.S. official cited by Axios. The official added that Trump delivered “the same” message regarding Israel’s military deployment in southern Lebanon.
The reported conversation took place a day after Trump met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey.
During the summit, the Trump administration continued efforts to facilitate a new security framework between Israel and Syria, the report said.
The White House declined to comment on the details of the reported phone call but did not deny the account.
A U.S. official told Axios, “President Trump has a strong relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Israel has always been a great ally to the United States. There has been no greater friend to Israel and a fighter for peace than President Trump.”
According to the report, Netanyahu opposed Trump’s request, arguing that Israel’s military presence remains essential to protecting the country’s borders.
In a statement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said, “The Prime Minister, for his part, raised the need for security zones along Israel’s borders.”
Axios reported that the Trump administration has spent months working to negotiate a new security arrangement between Israel and Syria.
U.S. officials cited in the report said Washington has been pursuing a phased withdrawal of Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) troops from areas in Syria that were occupied following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024.
However, U.S. officials reportedly believe Netanyahu remains reluctant to make the strategic concessions sought by Washington.
The issue has gained urgency following a series of recent confrontations in southern Syria, where local residents reportedly protested the presence of Israeli forces and clashed with IDF personnel.
The diplomatic efforts come as U.S.-backed negotiations between Israel and Lebanon resumed in Rome on Tuesday.
American mediators met with Israeli and Lebanese officials to discuss implementing a framework agreement announced several weeks ago.
Under the agreement, Israel committed to withdrawing its forces from two pilot zones in southern Lebanon, allowing the Lebanese Armed Forces to deploy in those areas.
However, the IDF has not yet withdrawn from the designated locations.
Lebanon has called for a clear timetable for additional Israeli withdrawals, while Israeli officials maintain that the IDF must first verify that the pilot zones are free of Hezbollah weapons and militant infrastructure before proceeding.
According to the report, Lebanese officials argue that U.S. forces should conduct that verification.
The diplomatic discussions are taking place amid broader regional tensions.
Earlier Wednesday, the U.S. military reestablished a naval blockade targeting Iranian ports following attacks that Washington says were carried out by Tehran against commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, further complicating an already fragile interim agreement aimed at containing the conflict.
Trump’s reported diplomatic pressure also comes at a politically sensitive time for Netanyahu, who is expected to face general elections in about three months.
According to the report, senior members of the Israeli government support maintaining a long-term military presence in parts of southern Syria and southern Lebanon, arguing that the deployments are necessary to prevent another attack similar to the one carried out on Oct. 7. (ANI)
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