US administration getti frustrated with Israeli PM Netanyahu's ‘mad' regional policy
Citing US officials on the condition of anonymity, Axios reported that much frustration has been growing within the Donald Trump administration over Netanyahu's "mad" regional policy, particularly in the wake of Israel's latest attacks in Syria.
"Bibi acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time... This could undermine what Trump is trying to do," one exasperated US official said.
Other White House figures believe Netanyahu's aggressive stance will prove a "big mistake" in the long run, suggesting he's blind to the damage inflicted upon Israel's standing among America's leadership.
Another official warned that Netanyahu's actions risk plunging Syria into deeper instability, with dire consequences for both the besieged Druze community and Israel itself, adding yet another level of uncertainty in an already deeply troubled and unstable Middle East.
The latest round of Israeli strikes, which targeted the presidential palace and general staff building in Damascus this week, came amidst a brutal conflict gripping Syria's southern province of Suwayda.
Last week, massive violence erupted within the Druze and Bedouin militias, leading to the intervention of the Syrian security forces.
However, their intervention only exacerbated the tensions, leading to fierce clashes between Druze militia and Syrian forces. The fighting ended after the Israeli bombings, with Damascus giving free hand to the Druze in monitoring their own security.
The Israeli attack hasn't gone well within the political circles in Washington, with several top-level US officials, including US Special Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff, reportedly having voiced their concerns directly to President Donald Trump.
While the official US position supports Jerusalem, the growing impatience and frustration could cause cracks in the Israel-US defence relations. UNI ANV SSP
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Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (L) has hit out against US President Donald Trump after the latter slapped an additional 40 per cent tariff on Brazil, taking the total to 50 per cent. File image/AFP Brazil Trump had earlier signed an executive order imposing an additional 40 per cent tariff on Brazil, bringing the total tariff rate for the country to 50 per cent. Products like orange juice and civil aircraft have been exempted from the tariffs. Most experts note that Trump's high tariff on the Latin American country is political. In his explanation, Trump cited the 'witch hunt' against his far-right ally Jair Bolsonaro, the former Brazilian president on trial for allegedly plotting a coup. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has denounced the tariffs as an attack on the 'sovereignty' of South America's largest economy. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD With inputs from agencies
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