Trump said to urge Netanyahu to pull Israeli troops from Syria, Lebanon in recent call

President Donald Trump recently urged Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to begin withdrawing Israeli troops from southern Syria and Lebanon, according to reports citing American and Israeli officials. The call, which took place last week, saw Trump warn that Israel's military presence in Syrian territory was escalating tensions.

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They don’t want you there. You should redeploy.

During the conversation, Trump reportedly told Netanyahu, "They don’t want you there. You should redeploy," making a similar request regarding Lebanon. Netanyahu, however, is said to have pushed back, emphasizing Israel's security requirements. This request comes after months of U.S. efforts to broker a security agreement between Israel and Syria, which reportedly stalled due to disagreements over troop withdrawal terms.

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the need for security zones along Israel’s borders

The Prime Minister's Office stated that Netanyahu stressed "the need for security zones along Israel’s borders" during the call. The White House declined to comment on the specifics of the report but underscored Trump's "strong relationship" with Netanyahu and described the U.S. president as "a fighter for peace."

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strong relationship

Meanwhile, separate negotiations between Israel and Lebanon are ongoing. Last month, Israel agreed to withdraw forces from two designated "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon to allow the Lebanese Armed Forces to assume security control and clear the area of Hezbollah weapons. However, Israel has yet to complete this withdrawal, causing delays in the talks. A recent round of U.S.-sponsored direct talks in Rome was described as "productive and held in a positive atmosphere," with both sides eager to advance the implementation of these withdrawals.

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a fighter for peace