The White House has reported that President Donald Trump was unexpectedly surprised by recent Israeli airstrikes in Syria, prompting him to reach out to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to address the situation. The strikes targeted the capital city of Damascus and the southern city of Sweida, with Israeli officials stating that the aim was to pressure the Syrian government into withdrawing its forces from the area amid ongoing combat.
During a press briefing, spokesperson Karoline Leavitt indicated that Trump was also taken aback by the bombing of a Catholic church in Gaza, which resulted in three fatalities and injuries to ten others, including a parish priest noted for his connection to the late Pope Francis. Netanyahu expressed regret over this incident, attributing it to a “stray missile.”
Earlier this month, Netanyahu visited the White House, marking his third trip since Trump resumed office in January, with Leavitt highlighting their robust communication and relationship.
On a more hopeful note, the United States, Israel, and Syria have reportedly established a ceasefire, brokered by the US, which has seen Syrian authorities begin evacuating Bedouin families from the Sweida region. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights stated that the ceasefire has generally held, although there were some reports of sporadic gunfire in northern areas of Sweida, with no new casualties reported.
Recent clashes in the southern province have resulted in over 1,260 deaths, posing significant challenges to the rule of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, who has promised to safeguard minority groups in a nation ravaged by over 14 years of conflict. Trump’s past meeting with Sharaa in Saudi Arabia led to a decision to lift many enduring US sanctions against Syria, indicating a potentially shifting approach in American foreign policy in the region.
This evolving situation highlights the complexities of Middle Eastern geopolitics and the delicate balance of power in the region, showcasing how diplomatic efforts and communications can influence outcomes amid turbulent conditions.