Axios: Trump calls on Netanyahu to redeploy Israeli forces from Syria, Lebanon

U.S. President Donald Trump urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to begin redeploying Israeli forces from Syria and to do the same in Lebanon during a phone call last week, Axios reported, citing U.S. and Israeli officials.

According to the report, Trump argued that the Israeli military's presence in southern Syria was fuelling tensions and increasing the risk of escalation.

"They don't want you there. You should redeploy," Trump told Netanyahu, according to a U.S. official cited by Axios, who added that the president made the same point regarding Lebanon.

The Israeli Prime Minister's Office confirmed that security issues were discussed during the call, saying:

"The Prime Minister, on his part, raised the need for security zones along Israel's borders."

The reported request comes as Washington seeks to reduce regional tensions following Trump's meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey.

According to Axios, the Trump administration has spent months attempting to broker a new security arrangement between Israel and Syria. U.S. officials told the outlet the effort ultimately stalled because Netanyahu was unwilling to make concessions, including a gradual withdrawal of Israeli troops from territory seized after the collapse of the Assad government in December 2024.

Israeli forces also remain deployed in parts of southern Lebanon under what Israel says are necessary security measures to prevent future cross-border attacks.

Axios reported that U.S.-mediated talks involving Israeli and Lebanese officials were held in Rome on Tuesday to discuss implementing a framework agreement reached several weeks earlier. Under the deal, Israel agreed to withdraw its forces from two "pilot zones" in southern Lebanon and allow the Lebanese army to deploy there.

However, the report said Israeli troops have not yet left the two areas. Lebanese officials are seeking a timetable for further withdrawals, while Israeli officials insist the military must first verify that the "pilot zones" are free of Hezbollah weapons and military infrastructure. Lebanese officials argue that the U.S. military should determine whether those conditions have been met.

By Aghakazim Guliyev