US President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to begin withdrawing Israeli forces from southern Syria and Lebanon during a phone call last week, according to a report by Axios, citing American and Israeli officials.According to the report, Trump warned that Israel’s continued military presence in Syrian territory could fuel further instability.“They don’t want you there. You should redeploy,” Trump told Netanyahu, according to a US official cited by Axios. The official added that Trump conveyed “the same” message regarding Israel’s military deployment in southern Lebanon.The reported conversation took place a day after Trump met Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the Nato summit in Turkey, where the US administration continued efforts to push for a new security arrangement between Israel and Syria, according to the report.The White House declined to comment on the contents of the call but did not deny the account.A US official told Axios, “President Trump has a strong relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu, and Israel has always been a great ally to the United States. There has been no greater friend to Israel and a fighter for peace than President Trump.”Netanyahu resisted Trump’s request, arguing that Israel’s military deployments were necessary to safeguard its borders. In a statement, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office said, “The Prime Minister, for his part, raised the need for security zones along Israel’s borders.”The report said the Trump administration has spent months trying to broker a new security agreement between Israel and Syria. US officials quoted by Axios said Washington had sought a gradual withdrawal of the Israel Defense Forces from Syrian territory occupied following the collapse of the Assad regime in December 2024.However, US officials believe Netanyahu has been unwilling to make the concessions sought by Washington.The issue has also gained urgency following several recent incidents in southern Syria, where local residents reportedly protested against the Israel defense forces’ presence and clashed with Israeli troops.The developments come as US-mediated negotiations between Israel and Lebanon resumed in Rome on Tuesday. American mediators met Israeli and Lebanese delegations to discuss the implementation of a framework agreement announced several weeks ago. Under the agreement, Israel committed to withdraw its forces from two “pilot zones” in southern Lebanon and allow the Lebanese military to deploy there.However, the Israel Defense Forces has yet to redeploy from those areas. Lebanon has demanded a clear timetable for further Israeli withdrawals, while Israeli officials maintain that the Israel Defense Forces first wants to verify that the pilot zones are free of Hezbollah weapons and military infrastructure before proceeding. Lebanese officials, according to the report, argue that the US military should make that assessment.The reported diplomatic push comes against the backdrop of wider regional tensions. Earlier on Wednesday, the US military reimposed a blockade on Iranian ports following Tehran’s attacks on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, further straining an already fragile interim arrangement aimed at containing the conflict.Trump’s intervention also comes at a politically sensitive time for Netanyahu, with elections due in about three months. The report said senior members of the Israeli government favour maintaining long-term control over parts of southern Syria and southern Lebanon, arguing that the deployments are necessary to prevent another 7 October-style attack.
