Against the backdrop of escalating U.S.-Iran tensions and a sustained campaign of nightly strikes on Iranian targets, President Donald Trump called on Israel Wednesday to end its ground operation in Lebanon, redeploy its forces, and focus instead on what he described as “the bigger issue—Iran.”
1+“It would be good if Israel redeployed its forces in Lebanon to focus on the bigger issue—Iran,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News. Trump said Syria’s president, Ahmed Hussein al-Sharaa—better known as Abu Mohammed al-Julani—could deal with the Hezbollah terror organization. “He’ll deal with Hezbollah differently, without destroying buildings, and he’ll be more precise than the Israelis in confronting the organization. I know he wants to do it,” Trump said. The comments came about a week after Trump removed Syria from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terrorism for the first time since 1979.
Meanwhile, the United States launched another wave of strikes against Iranian targets earlier today (Wednesday). The operation aimed to degrade military capabilities Iranian forces used to attack commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. This follows Trump’s announcement several days ago renewing the naval blockade on Iranian ports, warning that if Tehran refuses to return to the negotiating table, Washington will expand its campaign to include civilian infrastructure in the country.
1+The latest strikes followed a roughly seven-hour operation overnight, during which American fighter jets and naval vessels hit dozens of military targets near the Strait of Hormuz and along Iran’s coastline, including missile and drone sites, naval assets, and coastal defense systems. According to U.S. Central Command, the moves were designed to reduce Iran’s ability to threaten commercial shipping and civilian crews in the region.
Whether Syria’s new leadership is both willing and capable of confronting Hezbollah remains an open question. For Israel, the answer could have far-reaching consequences.