Trump Urges Israel to Withdraw Forces from Syria and Lebanon

President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to withdraw military forces from southern Syria and Lebanon during a series of communications in early July 2026. Trump cautioned that the military presence in Syrian territory fuels regional volatility and could lead to escalation, telling Netanyahu, "They don't want you there. You should redeploy." This request followed meetings between Trump and Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa at a NATO summit in Ankara, after which the U.S. removed Syria's designation as a state sponsor of terrorism.

Netanyahu opposed the demand, citing the necessity of security zones to prevent attacks similar to October 7. Tensions between the leaders further intensified during the Ankara summit when Trump ignored Israeli pleas to block the sale of F-35 jet engines to Turkey. Reports also indicated a deeper rift, with Trump criticizing Netanyahu's judgment and asserting that the Israeli leader "knows who the boss is."

In a recent Fox News interview, Trump stated that an Israeli withdrawal would allow the U.S. to focus its energy on Iran. He further revealed he is considering giving President al-Sharaa a "green light" to launch a military offensive to eliminate Hezbollah, suggesting Syrian forces would be more precise than the Israeli military.

Despite the friction, Netanyahu is planning a visit to Washington on Saturday to restore trust and advocate for a strict permanent agreement regarding Iran's uranium and ballistic missiles. While the White House stated a visit is not currently on the schedule, Israeli sources maintain the trip is intended to facilitate a meeting with Trump and attend a memorial for Senator Lindsey Graham.