Trump calls on Netanyahu to withdraw troops from Syria and Lebanon

US President Donald Trump has called on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to gradually withdraw Israeli forces from Syria and Lebanon. According to US media outlet Axios, Trump made the request in a recent telephone conversation between the two. Several US and Israeli officials have confirmed the matter.
However, analysts say that such a decision will not be easy for Netanyahu due to the upcoming elections. The upcoming elections are crucial for his political position and personal future. With only three months left until the election, it is unlikely that he will take any major steps other than withdrawing troops from occupied Syrian territory or deploying additional forces to Lebanon.
Nevertheless, Trump’s request has increased international pressure on Netanyahu. Currently, the Israeli Defense Forces control large areas of southern Lebanon and southern Syria. Israel claims that the military presence in these areas is necessary to prevent another incursion like the October 7 attack. But senior Israeli officials favor keeping the areas under their control indefinitely, with some even calling for Jewish settlements there.
A U.S. official said Trump told Netanyahu that the presence of Israeli troops on Syrian soil was causing tension and could escalate the conflict. Trump said, the official said, “They don’t want you there.” He added, “You should withdraw your troops,” adding that the same applies to Lebanon.
The Israeli prime minister’s office said in a statement that Netanyahu stressed to Trump the need to maintain a security zone along the border. The call between Trump and Netanyahu came a day after Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of a NATO summit in Turkey.
According to U.S. officials, the Trump administration has been trying to broker a new security agreement between Israel and Syria for months. But they ultimately concluded that Netanyahu was not willing to make the concessions they had hoped for.
Among the concessions expected by the United States was a phased withdrawal of troops from Syrian territory occupied by the Israeli Defense Forces since the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024. In recent weeks, there have been several local protests against the presence of Israeli troops in southern Syria. In some cases, Israeli troops have clashed with protesters.
Meanwhile, a meeting between Israeli and Lebanese diplomats was held in Rome on Tuesday under US mediation. The talks focused on the implementation of a framework agreement signed between the two countries a few weeks ago. According to the agreement, Israel has pledged to withdraw troops from two “pilot zones” under its control in southern Lebanon and has agreed to allow the Lebanese army to deploy there.
However, the Israeli Defense Forces have not yet withdrawn troops from the two areas. The Lebanese government wants the withdrawal to begin quickly and a specific timetable for further steps to be announced. Israeli officials, on the other hand, have claimed that they want to be sure that no Hezbollah weapons or military infrastructure remain in the two “pilot zones” before withdrawing troops from other areas. However, the Lebanese side has said that the final decision on this matter should be made by the US military.
The White House has declined to comment officially on the matter. However, they have not denied the veracity of the published information. A US official told Axios that President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu have a strong relationship. Israel is a key ally of the United States and there is no greater friend and peacekeeper for Israel than Trump.

Source: Axios