U.S. President Donald Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Israel must be more responsible in its approach toward Lebanon [1, 2].

The exchange marks a public shift in tone regarding Israel's military strategy. By suggesting a third party handle regional threats, the U.S. administration is signaling a desire for decreased escalation in the Levant to avoid a broader regional conflict.

The conversation took place on June 16 during the G7 summit in France [1, 2]. Trump addressed the Israeli leader's recent military actions, saying that Israel's attack on Lebanon was too much and that they have to be more responsible [2].

Trump said that Syria's president is the most capable person to counter Hezbollah [1, 2]. This suggests a strategic pivot where the U.S. would prefer Syria to manage the group rather than seeing Israel lead the effort through direct strikes.

"I'm not happy with the way Israel has handled themselves with Lebanon and with Hezbollah," Trump said [3].

The president's comments come amid rising tensions in the region. He said that the recent strikes by Israeli forces were excessive, which led to his call for restraint during the summit meetings [1, 2].

“"Israel's attack on Lebanon was too much; they have to be more responsible."”

This development suggests a potential realignment of U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East, moving away from unconditional support for Israeli military autonomy in Lebanon. By positioning Syria as the primary actor to manage Hezbollah, the U.S. may be attempting to stabilize the region through local intermediaries to prevent a total war that could draw in global powers.