Latest news with #IsraeliStrikes
CTV News
2 hours ago
- Politics
- CTV News
Trump ‘caught off guard' by recent Israeli strikes, White House says
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, July 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump was 'caught off guard' by the recent Israeli strikes in Syria and on a Catholic church in Gaza, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday. Her comments were a rare suggestion of daylight between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who have often been aligned on politics and foreign policy, particularly with the recent attacks on Iran's nuclear program. However, Trump is pushing for an end to the war in Gaza and trying to support the new Syrian government as the country emerges from years of civil war, and Israeli military operations have threatened to complicate those initiatives. An Israeli attack last week hit the Gaza Strip's only Catholic church, killing three people and stirring outrage. In addition, Israel intervened during the latest outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria, even bombing the capital, Damascus. Leavitt told reporters that Trump has 'a good working relationship' with Netanyahu but 'he was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also the bombing of a Catholic church in Gaza.' 'In both accounts, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations,' Leavitt said. Trump's special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, told The Associated Press that Israel's intervention in Syria 'creates another very confusing chapter' and 'came at a very bad time.' Chris Megerian, The Associated Press
Associated Press
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Trump 'caught off guard' by recent Israeli strikes, White House says
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was 'caught off guard' by the recent Israeli strikes in Syria and on a Catholic church in Gaza, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Monday. Her comments were a rare suggestion of daylight between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who have often been aligned on politics and foreign policy, particularly with the recent attacks on Iran's nuclear program. However, Trump is pushing for an end to the war in Gaza and trying to support the new Syrian government as the country emerges from years of civil war, and Israeli military operations have threatened to complicate those initiatives. An Israeli attack last week hit the Gaza Strip's only Catholic church, killing three people and stirring outrage. In addition, Israel intervened during the latest outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria, even bombing the capital, Damascus. Leavitt told reporters that Trump has 'a good working relationship' with Netanyahu but 'he was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also the bombing of a Catholic church in Gaza.' 'In both accounts, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations,' Leavitt said. Trump's special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, told The Associated Press that Israel's intervention in Syria 'creates another very confusing chapter' and 'came at a very bad time.'
News24
7 hours ago
- Politics
- News24
US cannot 'compel' Israel to do anything, US special envoy says in Lebanon
US envoy Thomas Barrack stated that Washington cannot compel Israel to halt strikes on Lebanon or withdraw its forces. Lebanon seeks US guarantees for Israeli troop withdrawal and halting strikes if Hezbollah begins disarming within four months. Barrack clarified the US won't coerce Lebanon on Hezbollah disarmament or impose sanctions for non-compliance. Washington cannot "compel" Israel to do anything, US special envoy Thomas Barrack said in Beirut on Monday, in response to a reporter's question about Lebanese demands that the US guarantees a halt to Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory. The US last month proposed a roadmap to Lebanon's top officials to fully disarm Hezbollah within four months, in exchange for a halt to Israeli strikes and a withdrawal of Israeli troops still occupying positions in southern Lebanon. Lebanon has asked Washington to act as a security guarantor to ensure that Israel will pull out its troops in full and halt targeting operations against members of Hezbollah, if the armed group begins handing in weapons. Asked about those guarantees, Barrack told reporters after a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam that the US "has no business in trying to compel Israel to do anything". He also told reporters that the US was not forcing Lebanon to strip Hezbollah of its arms, or considering sanctions against Lebanese officials if Hezbollah is not disarmed. Barrack said: There's no consequence, there's no threat, there's no whip. Barrack, a longtime adviser to US President Donald Trump, also serves as US ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria. He is making his third trip to Lebanon in just over a month to discuss the US roadmap, which covers the disarmament of non-state armed groups, long-awaited economic reforms, and better ties with Lebanon's neighbour, Syria. Israel and Hezbollah fought a months-long war last year that ended with a US-brokered truce calling for both sides to halt fighting, for Israel to withdraw troops, and for Lebanon to be free of all non-state arms, starting with the southern region closest to the Israeli border. While Hezbollah has handed in some weapons from depots in the country's south to the Lebanese army, Israel says the group is violating the ceasefire by attempting to re-establish itself. Lebanon and Hezbollah say Israel has breached the truce by continuing to occupy at least five vantage points in a strip of the Lebanese border, and carrying out strikes on what Israel says are Hezbollah members and arms depots.
Reuters
7 hours ago
- Politics
- Reuters
US cannot 'compel' Israel to do anything, US special envoy says in Lebanon
BEIRUT, July 21 (Reuters) - Washington cannot "compel" Israel to do anything, U.S. special envoy Thomas Barrack said in Beirut on Monday, in response to a reporter's question about Lebanese demands that the U.S. guarantees a halt to Israeli strikes on Lebanese territory. The U.S. last month proposed a roadmap to Lebanon's top officials to fully disarm Hezbollah within four months, in exchange for a halt to Israeli strikes and a withdrawal of Israeli troops still occupying positions in southern Lebanon. Lebanon has asked Washington to act as a security guarantor to ensure that Israel will pull out its troops in full and halt targeting operations against members of Hezbollah, if the armed group begins handing in weapons. Asked about those guarantees, Barrack told reporters after a meeting with Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam that the U.S. "has no business in trying to compel Israel to do anything." He also told reporters that the U.S. was not forcing Lebanon to strip Hezbollah of its arms, or considering sanctions against Lebanese officials if Hezbollah is not disarmed. "There's no consequence, there's no threat, there's no whip," Barrack said. Barrack, a longtime adviser to U.S. President Donald Trump, also serves as U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy for Syria. He is making his third trip to Lebanon in just over a month to discuss the U.S. roadmap, which covers disarmament of non-state armed groups, long-awaited economic reforms and better ties with Lebanon's neighbour Syria. Israel and Hezbollah fought a months-long war last year that ended with a U.S.-brokered truce calling for both sides to halt fighting, for Israel to withdraw troops, and for Lebanon to be free of all non-state arms, starting with the southern region closest to the Israeli border. While Hezbollah has handed in some weapons from depots in the country's south to the Lebanese army, Israel says the group is violating the ceasefire by attempting to re-establish itself. Lebanon and Hezbollah say Israel has breached the truce by continuing to occupy at least five vantage points in a strip of the Lebanese border, and carrying out strikes on what Israel says are Hezbollah members and arms depots.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Politics
- Asharq Al-Awsat
US Did Not Support Recent Israeli Strikes on Syria, State Dept Says
The United States did not support recent Israeli strikes on Syria, the State Department said on Thursday, adding that Washington made clear its displeasure after tensions escalated and worked quickly to stop it. On Wednesday, Israel launched airstrikes in Damascus, while also hitting government forces in the south, demanding they withdraw and saying Israel aimed to protect Syrian Druze - part of a small but influential minority that also has followers in Lebanon and Israel. "Regarding Israel's intervention and activity ... the United States did not support recent Israeli strikes," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters at a regular news briefing. "We are engaging diplomatically with Israel and Syria at the highest levels, both to address the present crisis and reach a lasting agreement between the two sovereign states." Bruce declined to say whether Washington supports Israel carrying out such military operations when it deems necessary. "I won't speak to future conversations or past ones. What we're dealing with now is this particular episode, what was required, and I think we've been very clear about our displeasure, certainly that the President has, and we've worked very quickly to have it stopped," she said. She added that the United States condemns violence in Syria and said Washington was actively engaging all constituencies in Syria to navigate toward calm and continued discussions on integration and called on the Syrian government to lead the path forward.
