Donald Trump has raised the prospect of asking Syria's rebel leader-turned-president to step in and combat Hezbollah in Lebanon, as he levelled more criticism at Benjamin Netanyahu.
Tensions between the US president and Israeli prime minister have boiled over multiple times in the past few weeks as negotiations between Washington and Tehran on a deal to end their broader regional war have intensified.
Speaking at the G7 summit in France, Mr Trump took aim at Mr Netanyahu again.
"Without the United States, there would be no Israel," he said.
"Without me, there would be no Israel because no other president was willing to do what I did.
"I've had a great relationship with Bibi [Mr Netanyahu], but now Bibi has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon."
On Sunday, local time, Israel launched an attack on a claimed Hezbollah command centre in southern Beirut during the final frenetic hours of negotiations between the US and Iran.
It prompted another heated phone call between the two leaders, with Mr Trump demanding Mr Netanyahu halt any further attacks.
But his criticism of the Israeli prime minister has now extended to his broader handling of the conflict with Hezbollah, which erupted in March when the Iranian-backed group opened fire on Israel in solidarity with Tehran.
"[Israel] should have been able to do the job 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," Mr Trump said.
"If Israel can't do the job without killing everyone else, it'll do the job, Syria will do the job.
"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."
World leaders, and some of their partners, gathered for the traditional "family photo" at the G7 summit in France. ( Reuters: Ludovic Marin/Pool )
Mr Trump has been fostering deeper ties with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa since the rebel leader toppled dictator Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.
His rise to power has deeply unsettled Israel, which is worried a man formerly affiliated with terrorist organisation Al Qaeda is now in charge of the country to its north-east.
Mr Trump's suggestion would also have broader ramifications, given Hezbollah backed the Assad regime during Syria's bloody civil war.
Syrian government forces had also spent decades occupying Lebanon.
Iran insists deal requires Lebanon withdrawal
The deal between the US and Iran includes a demand for an end to all fighting across the region, including in Lebanon.
On Monday, Mr Netanyahu said Israeli forces would remain in territory it seized and occupied during its invasion of Lebanon in March.
The White House has told reporters a withdrawal of Israeli troops will not be a condition of the agreement with Tehran.
But Iran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said his country viewed the situation differently.
"The end of the war also includes the end of occupation. Without the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the territories they have occupied in this war, a full end to the war has not been achieved," Mr Araghchi said.
"Any military attack by the Zionist regime on Lebanon from now on, as well as the continued occupation of Lebanese territories from now on, will, in our view, be considered a violation of the memorandum of understanding."
While fighting between Israel and Hezbollah has eased considerably, Israel launched more strikes in southern Lebanon on Tuesday.
Lebanese authorities said at least four people were killed in the attack.
Trump may force Netanyahu's hand
Despite Mr Netanyahu's insistence Israel would maintain a presence in Lebanon, the former head of the Iran branch in Israel's defence intelligence said he might yield to pressure.
"If Trump wants us to withdraw from Lebanon, we will withdraw from Lebanon," Danny Citrinowicz, who is now a researcher with Israel's Institute of National Security Studies, told the ABC.
"Our ability to challenge Trump, regardless of what Netanyahu is saying, I think is limited to none."
Multiple Israeli media outlets reported Israel had asked to see a copy of the deal, but the US rejected the request. On Monday, Mr Netanyahu said he had not seen the deal.
Danny Citrinowicz says Israel will be unable to challenge Donald Trump despite Benjamin Netanyahu's comments. ( ABC News: Hamish Harty )
Mr Citrinowicz argued the relationship between the US and Israel had changed dramatically during the war.
"Israel can play the spoiler, but the price will be friction with the US administration and Trump specifically," he said.
"So I think Israel needs to think hard and clear what to do because Trump already set his mind on agreement.
"I'm not saying that [Israel] won't do that, but I think that the price for that will [be] a huge price if we decide to do so."
Mr Citrinowicz was pessimistic about the war with Iran from the beginning, and his view on the deal struck by the US did not change the situation.
"It was a total fail…
Read the full article at ABC News (Australia) →
Australia