Paris: US President Donald Trump has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to exercise greater responsibility in dealing with Lebanon, criticizing the scale of Israeli military operations against Hezbollah. Speaking to reporters in France during the G7 meetings, Trump emphasized the need for a more measured approach by Israel in its dealings with its neighbor.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump stated, "I've had a great relationship with Bibi, but now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon." He expressed dissatisfaction with Israel's handling of its operations in Lebanon and its approach towards Hezbollah, stating that Lebanon has faced significant hardships and struggles to defend itself against the group. Trump highlighted the importance of US support for Israel, claiming that without his involvement, Israel would have faced dire consequences.

Trump criticized the prolonged nature of Israel's conflict with Hezbollah, suggesting that the ongoing violence has led to unnecessary loss of life in Lebanon. He remarked, "They should have been able to do this yet faster. It just goes on forever, and when that happens, it throws a negative light on the big deal, and that's the deal with Iran." Trump also raised concerns about the impact of Israel's military actions on civilians, noting that the destruction of residential areas affects many innocent people not affiliated with Hezbollah.

In a surprising suggestion, Trump mentioned that he had proposed allowing Syria to take on the task of confronting Hezbollah. He expressed confidence in Syria's ability to handle the situation more effectively, stating, "I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah because to be honest with you, I think they'd do a better job of doing it."