Fascism

Trump turns on Israel over Lebanon war, says Syria could fight Hezbollah better

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US President Donald Trump speaks to members of the press before boarding Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, United States, on May 12, 2026. [Kyle Mazza – Anadolu Agency]

“Syria can do the job” of fighting Hezbollah better than Israel, Donald Trump has said, in a remarkable rebuke of Tel Aviv’s war in Lebanon and its mounting civilian toll.

Speaking ahead of a bilateral meeting with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani at the G7 summit in Evian, Trump said he was “not happy” with Israel’s handling of Lebanon and warned that its offensive was undermining Washington’s efforts to secure a wider regional deal with Iran.

“I’m not happy with the way Israel has handled themselves with Lebanon and with Hezbollah,” Trump said. “It just goes on forever, and when that happens, it throws a negative light on the big deal, and that’s the deal with Iran.”

“You don’t have to knock down an apartment house every time you’re looking for somebody,” he added, in one of his sharpest public criticisms yet of Israel’s military tactics.

Trump then suggested that Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa, who took power after the overthrow of Bashar Al-Assad’s regime in 2024, should be allowed to confront Hezbollah instead.

READ: Trump says Israel’s Netanyahu must be ‘more responsible’ on Lebanon

“If Israel can’t do the job, without killing everyone else, he’ll do the job. Syria will do the job,” Trump said.

The US president said he had told Israeli officials that they should let Syria “take care of Hezbollah,” adding: “I think they’d do a better job of doing it.”

The comments underline growing frustration in Washington with Israel’s expanding war in Lebanon, which has become a major obstacle to US efforts to consolidate an agreement with Iran. The US and Iran have reached a framework to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, ease the blockade on Iranian ports and begin a 60-day negotiation period towards a final settlement. The deal is also expected to include a ceasefire across several regional fronts, including Lebanon, where Hezbollah has supported Iran militarily.

However, Israel is accused of undermining the effort with strikes on Lebanon. 

Lebanon has become a key pressure point in the US-Iran negotiations. Tehran backs Hezbollah and has insisted that Israel’s continued presence and attacks in Lebanon must be addressed as part of any wider regional arrangement. 

READ: US pressures Syria to join Israel in war against Hezbollah

Trump’s comments suggest that the White House increasingly views Israel’s Lebanon campaign as a direct threat to its wider regional strategy. The US president had already warned Israel and Hezbollah to “stand down” after an Israeli strike on southern Beirut threatened to complicate the Iran talks.

Israel’s offensive in Lebanon began in March. Since then, Israeli attacks have killed more than 3,800 people, wounded thousands and displaced large numbers of civilians. Israeli ground forces have also occupied hundreds of square kilometres of southern Lebanon.

Israel has insisted that it will not halt its campaign until Hezbollah is defeated. But Trump’s remarks expose a widening rift between Washington and Tel Aviv over the scale, duration and political cost of Israel’s military operations.

Syria’s new rulers are also deeply hostile to Hezbollah because the Lebanese group fought on behalf of the deposed Assad regime during the Syrian civil war. That hostility appears to be what Trump was referring to when he said Al-Sharaa was “very good with Hezbollah” and “does not like them.”

But any Syrian military role in Lebanon remains highly unlikely. Al-Sharaa has denied reports that Syria is preparing to intervene, saying the rumours were “nothing but speculation” and stressing that Damascus wants to end the war in Lebanon, not expand it.

Al-Sharaa has dismissed claims of Syrian military intervention as “completely untrue,” adding that the priority was stability while Israeli attacks had displaced more than 1.5 million people.

READ: Israel orders evacuation of over 50 Lebanese villages ahead of air strikes

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Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.

Continue ReadingTrump turns on Israel over Lebanon war, says Syria could fight Hezbollah better

Pope Leo stresses need for US-Iran deal to enhance security, stability across Middle East

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Pope Leo XIV greets migrants during a visit to the Las Raices reception centre in Tenerife, Canary Islands, Spain on June 12, 2026. [Andres Gutierrez – Anadolu Agency]

Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday stressed the need for the recently announced agreement between the US and Iran to enforce security and stability across the Middle East, Anadolu reports.

“I hope that this agreement will contribute to strengthening mutual trust, security, and stability in the Middle East, and promote paths of dialogue and cooperation among the peoples,” the pontiff said through US social media platform X.

He also welcomed, “with satisfaction,” the agreement as an “encouraging outcome of patient work in dialogue and negotiation.”

“I express my gratitude to the countries that have strived to foster the encounter between the parties and make such an understanding possible,” the pope added.

Washington and Tehran reached a temporary truce this April through Pakistani mediation before announcing a framework agreement this Monday to end the conflict. The accord is expected to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday.

READ: Pope Leo says US-Israeli war against Iran not ‘just war’

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Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.

Continue ReadingPope Leo stresses need for US-Iran deal to enhance security, stability across Middle East

Israeli Security Minister Ben-Gvir appoints relatives of slain Israelis as prison inspectors: Reports

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Itamar Ben Gvir, Israel’s national security minister, during a news conference at the Knesset in Jerusalem, Israel, on, 05 February , 2024 [Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg via Getty Images]

Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir has decided to appoint relatives of slain Israelis as official prison inspectors in a move aimed at tightening detention conditions for Palestinian detainees, Israeli media reported Wednesday.

“The minister’s goal is to worsen the conditions of security prisoners,” people close to Ben-Gvir said, according to Israel’s Channel 12.

Israel uses the term “security prisoners” to refer to Palestinian detainees.

According to the broadcaster, Ben-Gvir decided to appoint the family members as official visitors and inspectors of Palestinian prisoners instead of qualified professionals.

“Minister Ben-Gvir reduced the number of inspectors to fewer than 20, and instead appointed bereaved families,” the channel said.

The inspectors are responsible for overseeing prisoners and monitoring their detention conditions and treatment inside Israeli prisons.

READ: Ben Gvir attacks Trump-Iran deal: Israel ‘not bound by US agreement’

The move drew criticism in Israel, with political sources describing it as “a crazy decision that violates the law and will harm international relations,” Channel 12 reported.

“With all due respect to the bereaved families, ultimately they are not an official or professional body,” the channel quoted former senior officials in the Israel Prison Service as saying.

The former officials warned that the move could trigger international criticism and escalate tensions inside and outside prisons.

Since taking office in late 2022, Ben-Gvir has moved to tighten detention conditions for Palestinian prisoners, including through policies that rights groups describe as food deprivation and medical neglect.

The Israeli rights group Physicians for Human Rights-Israel said Tuesday that Palestinian prisoner Imad Sarhan faced medical neglect and was not examined for more than two and a half years before his death on Saturday at Gilboa Prison.

According to the group, Sarhan suffered from several health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.

Sarhan’s death raised the number of Palestinian prisoners who have died in Israeli prisons since Oct. 7, 2023, to 104, according to the Israeli newspaper Haaretz.

Around 9,500 Palestinian prisoners, including women and children, are being held in Israeli prisons and face starvation, torture and medical neglect that have led to the deaths of dozens of detainees, according to Palestinian and Israeli rights reports.

READ: Extremist Israeli minister ‘stepped on prisoners’ heads’ during Ofer Prison raid, rights group says

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.

Continue ReadingIsraeli Security Minister Ben-Gvir appoints relatives of slain Israelis as prison inspectors: Reports

‘Without me there is no Israel’ says Trump warning Tel-Aviv to stop flattening homes

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United States President Donald Trump (L) meets with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (R) in the White House in Washington DC., United States on April 7, 2025 [Avi Ohayon (GPO)/Handout/Anadolu Agency]

US President Donald Trump has delivered a rare public rebuke of Israel’s military conduct in Lebanon, warning that Israel is killing too many civilians in its war with Hezbollah and does not need to destroy entire apartment buildings in pursuit of individual targets.

Speaking to reporters at the G7 summit in France, Trump said: “Israel’s fighting Hezbollah too long, and too many people are being killed. And 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, that I can tell you.”

The remarks were seen as an unusually blunt criticism from a US president who has otherwise presented himself as one of Israel’s strongest allies. They also appear to acknowledge what human rights groups and international law experts have long argued: that Israel’s practice of bombing residential buildings in the name of targeting fighters is a violation of international humanitarian law.

Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, intentionally directing attacks against civilians or civilian objects which are not military objectives constitutes a war crime. The laws of war also prohibit attacks expected to cause civilian harm that would be excessive in relation to the anticipated military advantage.

READ: Israeli analysts call Netanyahu ‘liar,’ ‘humiliated’ by Trump after US-Iran deal

Trump went further, saying he had urged Israel to allow Syria to deal with Hezbollah instead. “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. Trump’s comments is widely seen as a display of frustration with Israeli strikes in Lebanon, which he believes risk undermining his wider efforts to strike a deal with Iran.

The comments are a political blow to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has insisted that Israel’s military actions in Lebanon are necessary for security. Trump’s statement suggests that Washington is no longer willing to give Israel unlimited rhetorical cover for attacks that kill civilians and destroy civilian infrastructure.

Trump’s remarks also struck a blow to Israeli propaganda about Iran. Referring to Iranian officials, Trump said: “We are dealing with people that I think are very rational people, and they were nice to deal with. They were strong people, smart people… But they’re not radicalised and they’re looking to help their country.”

For decades, Israeli leaders have portrayed Iran as an irrational and fanatical enemy that only understands force. Trump’s description of Iranian officials as “rational”, “strong” and “smart” undercuts that narrative at a critical moment, as his administration pushes ahead with a US-Iran understanding despite Israeli objections.

The remarks come amid growing signs of strain in US-Israel relations following the Iran deal. Analysts have described Israel and the US as being at a “fork in the road”, with Trump pressing Netanyahu not to derail a ceasefire framework while Israeli officials fear the agreement could restrict their freedom of action in Lebanon and beyond.

Trump’s comments also appear to reinforce Israel’s deepening fear of US abandonment. According to The National, Trump told reporters at the summit: “Without us, without the United States, there would be no Israel. Without me, there would be no Israel.”

READ: US rejects Israeli request to review Iran agreement memorandum, Hebrew media report

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.

Continue Reading‘Without me there is no Israel’ says Trump warning Tel-Aviv to stop flattening homes

Trump says Iran pact ‘not final,’ warns of renewed strikes

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United States President Donald Trump speaks to the press before he departs the White House en route to Davos, Switzerland, to attend the World Economic Forum (WEF), on January 20, 2026, in Washington DC, United States. [Celal Güneş – Anadolu Agency]

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the deal announced with Iran this week is a “memorandum of understanding” and remains subject to change, Anadolu reports.

“If I don’t like it, we’ll go back to shooting at them,” Trump told reporters during a meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi.

He warned that if Iran’s leaders “don’t behave,” the US will resume “dropping bombs” on their territory.

Washington and Tehran reached a temporary truce this April through Pakistani mediation before announcing a framework agreement this Monday to end the conflict. The accord is expected to be formally signed in Switzerland on Friday.

Nuclear goals, funding denied

Trump said the core objective of the deal is preventing Tehran from obtaining nuclear weaponry.

“It’s a great deal for a lot of reasons, but number one, by far, 99.9% is they will never have a nuclear weapon,” he said, characterizing the pact as “very strong.”

The US president also firmly rejected reports of a $300 billion development fund accessible to Iran involving American taxpayers, calling it a “false story.”

“We’re not investing. We’re not putting up 10 cents,” Trump said, adding that others may choose to invest. “I would say they won’t be doing it for a while, until they find out (about) the behavior (by Iran),” he added.

Economic relief, maritime security

On the global economic impact of the war, Trump said oil prices have “come tumbling down” as markets react to the de-escalation.

The US president added that the Strait of Hormuz is “already partially opened” and that he expects the vital waterway to be fully operational within the next two days.

He argued that without a deal, the world would have faced a “depression” because the strait would have remained closed due to the risk of rockets and mines.

READ: Switzerland confirms US-Iran memorandum signing set for Friday at Burgenstock

This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza's hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer objects to criticism of the IDF. He asks how could anyone object to them starving people to death, forced marches like the Nazis did, bombing Gaza’s hospitals and universities, mass-murdering journalists, healthworkers and starving people queuing for food, killing and raping prisoners and murdering children. He calls for people to stop obstructing his genocide for Israel.
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel's genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism "without qualification". Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Keir Starmer explains that UK is actively supporting Israel’s genocidal expansion and repeats his previous quotation that he supports Zionism “without qualification”. Keir Starmer said “I said it loud and clear – and meant it – that I support Zionism without qualification.” here: https://www.jewishnews.co.uk/keir-starmer-interview-i-will-work-to-eradicate-antisemitism-from-day-one/
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.
Orcas discuss Genocide-supporting and complicit Zionists. Donald Trump, Keith Starmer, David Lammy, Rachel Reeves, Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting are acknowledged as evil genocide-complicit and supporting cnuts.

Continue ReadingTrump says Iran pact ‘not final,’ warns of renewed strikes