Axios: Trump told Netanyahu Israel should withdraw its forces from Syria and Lebanon

In a phone call with Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, Donald Trump, the U.S. President, asked him to begin the process of withdrawing and redeploying Israeli forces from Syria and Lebanon. According to a report published on Thursday by Axios, citing American and Israeli officials, the request was made at a time when the Israeli military controls large areas of southern Lebanon and southern Syria, with three months left until Israel’s parliamentary elections.

• Axios reported this news, citing American and Israeli officials.
• Donald Trump made the request during a Thursday phone call with Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel’s prime minister.
• Trump told Netanyahu: “Israel should carry out the process of withdrawing and redeploying its forces from Syria and Lebanon.”
• He also added: “They don’t want you there; you need to move your forces.”
• An American official told Axios that Trump stressed to Netanyahu that Israel’s military presence on Syrian soil is inflammatory and could lead to an escalation of the conflict.
• Trump said the same also applies to Lebanon.
• The Israeli military currently controls large areas of southern Lebanon and southern Syria.
• According to Axios, with three months left until Israel’s parliamentary elections, which are vital to Netanyahu’s political survival, he is unlikely to take major steps to pull Israeli forces back from the areas under control in Syria.
• He is also unlikely to agree to any further withdrawal beyond what he has already accepted in Lebanon.
• Senior members of the Israeli government want unrestricted control over these areas.
• In response, the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office stated that “the prime minister emphasized the need to establish buffer zones.”. Coverage difference: The media outlets “Entekhab,” “Khabar فوری,” and “Shargh newspaper” mainly focused on Trump’s direct quote and his call for the withdrawal of forces from Syria and Lebanon. By contrast, Radio Farda, in addition to the quotes, covered more details such as the current status of the Israeli military in the controlled areas, the importance of the parliamentary elections for Netanyahu, and the Israeli Prime Minister’s Office’s stance on buffer zones. Shargh newspaper used the word “ultimatum” in its headline, giving it a different tone from the other outlets.