Trump says Israel 'fighting Hezbollah too long' as Lebanon war drags on - analysis

President Donald Trump has voiced frustration with the protracted conflict between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, suggesting the fighting has lasted too long and resulted in too many casualties.

“

Israel is fighting Hezbollah too long, and too many people are being killed.

Trump's remarks, shared on X/Twitter by Fox News Chief Foreign Correspondent Trey Yingst, indicate a belief that Israel's current approach is not effective. "You don’t have to knock down an apartment house every time you’re looking for somebody," Trump stated, highlighting concerns about civilian deaths. He also suggested that Syria could potentially handle the situation, questioning why Israel has taken so long to defeat Hezbollah.

“

You don’t have to knock down an apartment house every time you’re looking for somebody. There are a lot of people in those apartment houses, and they’re not all Hezbollah.

The former president's comments appear to stem from a perspective that while he is a supporter of Israel, this support includes offering critical counsel. Trump reportedly believes that Israel's leaders need to be more responsible in their conduct regarding Lebanon. He has previously suggested that Syria could take on the task of dealing with Hezbollah, noting the Syrian rebel group HTS's swift victory over the Assad regime in 2024.

“

Syria can do Israel's job.

Trump's views may be informed by Israel's history of decisive military victories, such as the Six-Day War in 1967 and subsequent conflicts. He seems to contrast these rapid successes with the current prolonged engagement against Hezbollah, which has lasted 981 days since October 8. Despite vows to "crush" Hezbollah, the group remains a significant force, leading Trump to question Israel's strategy and its impact on civilian populations.

“

Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon. I’m not happy with the way Israel has handled themselves with Lebanon, and wit