President Trump criticized Israel’s conduct in the Lebanon conflict during remarks at the G7 summit in France, arguing that the fighting against Hezbollah has gone on for too long and resulted in too many civilian deaths.
“Israel is fighting Hezbollah too long and too many people are being killed,” Trump said, adding that “you don’t have to knock down an apartment house every time you’re looking for somebody.”
Trump said he was “not happy with the way Israel has handled themselves with Lebanon and with Hezbollah,” arguing that the operation should have been completed more quickly and warning that the prolonged conflict casts “a negative light on the big deal,” referring to ongoing efforts involving Iran. The president also reiterated his criticism of an Israeli strike in Beirut that took place shortly before the announcement of an interim peace agreement between the United States and Iran.
“I didn’t like where, two hours before we’re signing the agreement, that there was an attack in Lebanon, in Beirut,” Trump said.
Trump went on to suggest that Syria, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, could more effectively take on Hezbollah.
“I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah,” Trump said. “Because to be honest with you, I think they’d do a better job of doing it.”
Calling Sharaa “very capable,” Trump added, “If Israel can’t do the job without killing everyone else, he’ll do the job. Syria will do the job.”
