Washington: US President Donald Trump has extended an invitation to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for a meeting at the White House "in the near future," according to the premier's office on Monday evening. The two leaders recently engaged in a phone conversation, emphasizing the need to disarm Hamas, demilitarize the Gaza Strip, and broaden peace agreements in the region.

According to Anadolu Agency, the invitation from Trump did not come with a specific date, and there has been no immediate confirmation from the White House regarding the meeting. The conversation between the two leaders coincides with ongoing US efforts to mitigate tensions between Israel and Syria, as reported by the Israeli public broadcaster KAN.

The broadcaster noted that Washington is working to ease tensions following a recent Israeli raid in the village of Beit Jinn in southern Syria, which resulted in the deaths of 13 Syrians and injuries to six Israeli soldiers. In light of these developments, President Trump has called for regional restraint, emphasizing the importance of maintaining open dialogue between Israel and Syria.

During the phone call, Trump praised Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa for his efforts in ensuring positive developments for both Israel and Syria. He described the current situation as a "historic opportunity" for achieving peace in the Middle East.

Since December 2024, there have been over 1,000 Israeli airstrikes and more than 400 cross-border raids recorded in Syria. Additionally, Israel has expanded its occupation of the Syrian Golan Heights by seizing the demilitarized buffer zone, a move that contravened a 1974 agreement.