Trump Pressed Netanyahu to Pull Forces From Lebanon and Syria
President Trump urged Israeli PM Netanyahu to redeploy troops from both Lebanon and Syria, according to U.S. and Israeli officials.
President Donald Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during a Thursday phone call that Israel should begin withdrawing its forces from both Syria and Lebanon, according to U.S. and Israeli officials cited by Axios. The directive — "They don't want you there. You should redeploy" — signals that Trump is pursuing back-channel diplomatic pressure even as he publicly escalated rhetoric around Iran.
The timing of the leak is drawing attention. Analysts note the disclosure may have been deliberately fed to reporters by the U.S. side as a signal to Iranian negotiators that Washington is still committed to a memorandum of understanding that required Israel to pull back from Lebanese territory. The strategic messaging suggests the administration is attempting to keep diplomatic channels open despite the hawkish optics of recent days.
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The push faces real political headwinds in Israel. Netanyahu is managing a domestic political calendar that includes a national election roughly three months out, making any visible military withdrawal a potentially costly move at home. Withdrawing from occupied positions in Lebanon or Syria before that vote could expose him to fierce criticism from right-wing coalition partners.
Markets registered a modest reaction to the geopolitical tension, with WTI crude oil climbing $1.01 to $79.15 at the time of reporting. Oil prices remain sensitive to any signals of escalation or de-escalation involving Iran, Israel, and the broader Middle East security environment.
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