Trump Pressures Netanyahu to Withdraw Israeli Forces from Syria and Lebanon

US President Donald Trump has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to begin withdrawing Israeli troops from Syria and to take similar steps in Lebanon, according to reports from Axios citing American and Israeli sources. The phone call occurred amid rising tensions and just three months before Israel's elections. Despite Trump's demands, Netanyahu is not expected to make significant moves to pull back Israeli forces from the areas they currently control in southern Syria or to allow further redeployments in Lebanon beyond previously agreed terms.

Israel maintains a substantial military presence in southern Lebanon and southern Syria, which the government argues is necessary to prevent further attacks like the October 7 massacre. Some senior Israeli officials support indefinite control over these regions and even advocate establishing Jewish settlements there. Trump reportedly told Netanyahu that the Israeli presence in Syria increases tensions and risks escalation, emphasizing that "they do not want you there" and advising a strategic redeployment. The Israeli Prime Minister's office responded by highlighting Netanyahu's insistence on maintaining security zones along Israel's borders.

The conversation took place a day after Trump's meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara at the NATO summit in Turkey. The Trump administration has been attempting for months to broker a new security agreement between Israel and Syria but concluded that Netanyahu is unwilling to make the concessions Washington demands, including a gradual Israeli withdrawal from Syrian territory held since the Assad regime's collapse in December 2024.

Recent weeks have seen protests by Syrian civilians against the Israeli military presence in southern Syria, with some clashes reported. Meanwhile, US mediators met in Rome with Israeli and Lebanese diplomats to discuss implementing a framework agreement signed weeks earlier. Under this deal, Israel agreed to withdraw from two pilot zones in southern Lebanon to allow Lebanese army deployment, but the Israeli Defense Forces have yet to pull back. Lebanon demands a clear timetable for further withdrawals, while Israel insists on verifying that these zones are free of Hezbollah weapons and infrastructure before proceeding. Lebanese officials argue that the US military should arbitrate this process.

The White House declined to comment but did not deny the details. An American source told Axios that Trump maintains a strong relationship with Netanyahu, describing Israel as a major US ally and praising Trump as a great friend and peace advocate for Israel.