President Trump suggests Syria should fight Hezbollah

President Trump said Tuesday that Israel has been fighting Hezbollah too long and suggested Syria should take over the role instead. Speaking to reporters at the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, he said Israel has killed too many civilians in Lebanon and criticized the tactic of striking apartment buildings.

"You don't have to knock down an apartment house every time you're looking for somebody, because there are a lot of people in those apartment houses, and they're not all Hezbollah," he said.

Lebanon operations President Trump expressed displeasure over an Israeli attack on Beirut that occurred as he negotiated the U.S. peace deal with Iran. He said he personally urged Israel to have Syria take over the role of fighting Hezbollah. "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," he said.

President Trump described Syria's new leader as very capable and said the leader does not like Hezbollah.

Israeli position Israel signaled Monday it has no intentions of stopping combat operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon, despite the U.S.-Iran deal promising a ceasefire on all fronts. Officials stated they are opposed to withdrawing forces from Lebanon and said much of the country's south would be demolished.