Trump tells Israel to use 'softer touch' in Lebanon, suggests Syria could target Hezbollah

Lead

US President Donald Trump has called on Israel to adopt a softer approach in its military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon and suggested that Syria could assume responsibility for confronting the group. Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France in mid-June 2026, Trump said Israel had been fighting Hezbollah for too long with excessive force that harmed civilians, and that Syrian forces under President Ahmed al-Sharaa might handle the task with greater precision. The remarks, reported across multiple outlets including the Jerusalem Post, TASS — English and ABC Australia, have drawn responses from Syrian, Israeli and Turkish leaders amid ongoing regional tensions linked to broader US-Iran negotiations.

Trump described the Lebanon fighting as a relatively limited matter that was casting a negative light on larger diplomatic efforts. He praised al-Sharaa for stabilizing Syria after the fall of Bashar al-Assad and said the Syrian leader viewed Hezbollah as an enemy. Syrian officials have rejected any notion of military intervention in Lebanon, while Israeli sources have expressed concern about a possible return of Syrian influence there.

Coverage Comparison

Reporting from the Jerusalem Post emphasized Israeli security concerns and the potential risks of empowering Syria's new leadership, noting Netanyahu's expected Security Cabinet discussions and historical fears of Syrian dominance in Lebanon before 2005. Multiple Jerusalem Post accounts detailed Trump's direct criticism of Netanyahu's handling of the conflict, including comments that Israel should not demolish apartment buildings in pursuit of targets, and highlighted regional dynamics involving Turkish support for Damascus. TASS — English focused on Trump's statements from Paris, quoting him on the need for a softer Israeli touch and his belief that al-Sharaa could conduct precise operations against Hezbollah, while also carrying al-Sharaa's later clarifications that he sought political and economic engagement rather than military action. ABC Australia framed the comments within wider regional implications, noting Netanyahu's insistence on maintaining an Israeli presence in Lebanon alongside Iran's demands for an end to fighting and Israeli withdrawals. Al Jazeera highlighted public sentiment in Damascus, where residents rejected the idea of Syria being drawn into confrontation with Hezbollah. Across the accounts, Trump's core suggestion that Syria take care of Hezbollah appears consistently, though emphasis varies between Israeli security worries, Syrian denials of intervention, and the proposal's place in broader diplomacy.

Key Claims

• US President Donald Trump suggested handing over responsibility for Hezbollah to the Syrian regime, stating that if Israel cannot complete the task without excessive civilian harm, Syria should do the job, as reported by the Jerusalem Post, TASS — English and ABC Australia.
• Trump criticized Israel's operations, saying the fighting had gone on too long, that apartment buildings need not be knocked down for every target, and that he had urged a softer touch on Netanyahu, according to TASS — English and the Jerusalem Post.
• Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa denied seeking to intervene militarily in Lebanon, stressing interest in economic channels and support for Lebanese state institutions rather than war, as carried by the Jerusalem Post and TASS — English.
• Al-Sharaa said he is ready to engage in talks with Hezbollah to find a solution bringing peace and stability to Lebanon, and that Trump's remarks referred to a peaceful role rather than troop deployment, according to TASS — English.
• Israel fears a return to Syrian dominance in Lebanon similar to the pre-2005 period, with analysts noting signs of Syrian efforts to strengthen influence in border areas, a claim reported by the Jerusalem Post.
• Trump's proposal met with criticism from Israeli officials, as noted in Jerusalem Post reporting.
• Residents in Damascus rejected Trump's suggestion that Syria should confront Hezbollah, preferring to avoid new regional conflicts, according to Al Jazeera.
• Iran insists that any deal with the US requires an end to all fighting across the region, including in Lebanon, and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied territories, as reported by ABC Australia.
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Trump that Israel constitutes the primary cause of instability and undermines political processes aimed at containing Iran's allies, according to the Jerusalem Post.

Perspectives

Trump has positioned the Lebanon conflict as a secondary issue that Israel has mishandled through prolonged and overly destructive tactics, arguing that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa could achieve better results against Hezbollah in partnership with the United States while protecting US interests. Israeli officials and analysts, as reflected in Jerusalem Post coverage, view the suggestion with alarm, citing fears that Syrian involvement could restore historical dominance over Lebanon and complicate Israel's security posture, with Netanyahu expected to convene discussions on the matter. Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa has rejected military intervention, insisting Syria seeks economic ties, joint solutions that strengthen Lebanese institutions, and possibly negotiations with Hezbollah to stabilize the country without further polarization or chaos. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has echoed calls for Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and Syria, describing Israel as the main driver of regional instability. Iranian positions, noted in ABC Australia reporting, tie any broader agreement to a full cessation of hostilities and Israeli pullbacks.