Trump criticizes Israel's Lebanon strikes, warns of civilian toll

In unusually candid remarks, US President Donald Trump acknowledged that Israel’s campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon has caused significant civilian deaths and criticized its methods, saying 'you don’t have to knock down an apartment house every time you are looking for somebody' because many residents are not Hezbollah. He added that Israel has been 'fighting Hezbollah too long' and expressed disapproval of strikes that hit Beirut rather than just southern parts of the city.

Trump also suggested that if Israel could not carry out operations without killing large numbers of civilians, Syria — and specifically its president Ahmed al-Sharaa, with whom he said he has good relations — 'will do the job.' The comments, made shortly before a deal with Iran was signed, amount to an unusually frank rebuke of Israeli tactics in Lebanon. as reported by The Guardian

This story has also been reported by: CNN, Al-Monitor, Jerusalem Post