Syria Should Take Care of Hezbollah’: Trump Slams Israel’s Lebanon Strikes, Says They Risk Iran Peace Deal.

US President says he’s ‘not happy’ with Netanyahu; suggests Syria’s new leadership could handle Hezbollah better amid fragile ceasefire talks.

Evian-les-Bains/Washington, June 16, 2026:-U.S. President Donald Trump publicly criticised Israel’s military campaign in Lebanon on Tuesday, saying recent strikes on Hezbollah risked derailing his peace efforts with Iran and expressing frustration with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government.

‘Not Happy’ With Israel Over Lebanon.

Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, Trump said he was “not happy with the way Israel has handled themselves with Lebanon and Hezbollah.” 

“They should have been able to handle themselves faster,” he told reporters, adding that the attacks “put a negative light on the big deal” with Iran. Trump warned that Netanyahu “has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon.” 

The comments came after Israel carried out strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday, targeting what it called Hezbollah strongholds. Trump said on Truth Social that the attack “should not have happened” and called for an immediate halt to hostilities. 

 ‘Let Syria Take Care of Hezbollah’.

Trump went further, suggesting Syria’s new leadership could play a role in containing Hezbollah. “I suggested to Israel to let Syria take care of Hezbollah,” he said. “To be honest with you, I think they would do a better job.” 

The remarks referenced Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who led the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Trump said al-Sharaa is “doing a very good job of cleaning up their act” and “would love to help” mediate in Lebanon. 

. Iran Deal ‘Very Close’ But Lebanon a Flashpoint*

Trump said the U.S. and Iran are “very close” to a peace agreement to end the 3.5-month war, which would reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restart talks on Tehran’s nuclear program. 

However, Iran has made a full ceasefire in Lebanon a condition of any deal. Netanyahu said Monday that Israeli forces would remain in Lebanese territory “for as long as necessary.” 

Trump stressed that both sides must exercise restraint: “There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon, but there should also be no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel.” 

Frustration with Netanyahu.

The criticism follows a tense phone call between Trump and Netanyahu. Trump told _The New York Times_ that Netanyahu is “a very difficult guy” and said he was “perturbed” by Israel’s continued fighting in Lebanon.

“I said, ‘Bibi, we gotta stop this,’” Trump told the _New York Post_, confirming he used expletives during the call. “He has no f**_ing judgment,” Trump told Axios saying the Beirut strike delayed the Iran deal signing by several hours.

Separate Tracks for Lebanon, Iran.

Trump clarified he is not demanding Lebanon be included in the Iran deal. “I’d like to see a more surgical attack on Hezbollah. I think it should be more surgical,” he told NBC’s _Meet the Press*. “I’m not demanding” Lebanon be part of the Iran talks, he added. 

Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel in March in solidarity with Iran after the U.S.-Israel offensive killed Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Over 3,560 people have been killed in Lebanon since March 2.