According to a report by the American news website Axios on July 14, U.S. and Israeli officials revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israel to withdraw its troops from Syria and Lebanon during a conversation with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last Thursday.
An American official said that Trump told Netanyahu that the presence of Israeli troops in Syrian territory created tensions and could lead to an escalation of conflicts, and the same was true in Lebanon.
"They don't want you to stay there. You should be redeployed." As stated by American officials quoting Trump.
In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister's Office said: "As for the Prime Minister, he proposed the necessity of establishing safe zones on Israel’s border.”
Reports indicate that the Trump administration has been urging Israel and Syria to reach a new security agreement for several months, but ultimately concluded that Netanyahu is unwilling to make concessions.
As for Lebanon, according to the framework agreement reached between Lebanon and Israel in June this year, Israel promised to withdraw from the two ‘pilot areas’ currently occupied in southern Lebanon, and to allow the Lebanese army to be deployed there. However, the Israeli Defense Forces have yet to withdraw from these two areas. The Lebanese government hopes to initiate this process and establish a clear timeline for the withdrawal of forces.
Some analysts believe that there are still three months left before Israel holds its elections, and these elections are crucial for Netanyahu's political survival and even his personal freedom. Therefore, it is unlikely that Netanyahu will take significant steps to withdraw the Israeli army from the Syrian territory under occupation, nor is it likely that he will allow any re-deployment regarding the Lebanese issue beyond what has been agreed upon. However, Trump's demands are increasing the pressure on the Israeli leader.
