by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized Israel’s handling of its campaign against Hezbollah on Tuesday, saying Syria should take a larger role in confronting the Iran-backed terror group if Israel cannot do the job without causing broader destruction.
Speaking at the G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France, Trump said the war between Israel and Hezbollah had gone on too long and was killing too many people. He specifically criticized Israeli strikes in densely populated areas, saying not everyone inside targeted apartment buildings is a member of Hezbollah.
“Israel is fighting Hezbollah too long and too many people are being killed,” Trump said. “And you don’t have to knock down an apartment house every time you’re looking for somebody. Because there are a lot of people in those apartment houses. And they’re not all Hezbollah — that I can tell you.”
Trump said he was unhappy with Israel’s recent strike in Beirut, which occurred shortly before the interim U.S.-Iran agreement was announced.
“I didn’t like where, two hours before we’re signing the agreement, that there was an attack in Lebanon, in Beirut,” Trump said.
The president warned that Israel’s continued campaign in Lebanon could cast “a negative light” on the broader agreement with Iran, even though he described the Lebanon front as a “relatively small” conflict compared with the larger regional deal.
“I’m not happy with the way Israel has handled themselves with Lebanon and with Hezbollah,” Trump said. “They should have been able to do the job faster. It just goes on forever.”
Trump then made one of his most striking comments of the day, saying he had suggested to Israel that Syria should take the lead in handling 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.”
Referring to Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa, Trump said Syria’s leadership was capable of taking on the terror group and had been cooperative with Washington.
“He’s very capable,” Trump said. “And he’s been very good for me. He’s protected everything that I’ve asked for.”
“If Israel can’t do the job without killing everyone else, he’ll do the job. Syria will do the job,” Trump added.
The remarks came as Hezbollah said Iran had assured the group that Tehran would demand the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon during the next phase of talks with the United States. Hezbollah said such a withdrawal would be the result of future negotiations, not a precondition for continued talks, while also claiming there would be no nuclear deal between Iran and the United States unless Israel withdraws from Lebanon.
Trump said he was not frustrated with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and described their relationship as “excellent.” However, he made clear that he believes Netanyahu must now act “with much greater responsibility” regarding Lebanon.
For Israel, the matter is not merely diplomatic. Hezbollah remains one of Iran’s most dangerous proxy armies, with years of experience, a large arsenal, and a long record of embedding its military infrastructure among civilian populations. Israel has repeatedly said it cannot allow Hezbollah to threaten its northern communities or turn Lebanon into another Iranian launchpad.
Trump’s proposal that Syria take a larger role against Hezbollah introduces a new and uncertain element into the region’s rapidly shifting landscape. If Syria truly moves against Hezbollah, it could weaken Iran’s regional network. But for many Israelis and conservatives watching the region closely, the deeper question is whether Damascus can be trusted — and whether any outside force can be relied upon to do what Israel believes is necessary for its own survival.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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