US President Donald Trump has sharply criticised Israel’s ongoing aggression in Lebanon, saying the war against Hezbollah has lasted “too long” and resulted in too many civilian deaths.
Speaking to reporters in France on Tuesday, Trump said, “Israel has been fighting Hezbollah too long, and too many people have been killed”, arguing that the scale of destruction was no longer justified.
He delivered a pointed critique of Israeli tactics, saying: “You don't have to knock down an apartment house every time you're looking for someone. There are a lot of people in those apartment houses that are not all Hezbollah.”
Trump said that if Israel could not carry out its operations “without killing everyone else,” then Syria should step in instead.
'Let Syria take care of Hezbollah'
Trump said he had advised Israel to allow Syria to confront Hezbollah in Lebanon, arguing that Damascus could do a better job of containing the group while avoiding wider destruction.
Trump expressed confidence in Syria’s current leadership, saying the country’s new administration was helping restore stability after years of conflict.
Incumbent Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa assumed office in January 2025 after the regime of Bashar Assad was ousted in December 2024.
He also praised the role of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, saying that “along with President Erdogan and some others,” Syria’s leadership was doing “an amazing job” of bringing the country together.
“He's not a Boy Scout, but he's done an amazing job of pulling it together, and he is very good,” Trump added.
The remarks highlight Washington’s growing confidence in Syria’s leadership and suggest a potential shift in regional security dynamics, with Damascus being viewed as a possible player in efforts to curb Hezbollah’s influence in neighbouring Lebanon.
