US President Donald Trump told reporters Monday that he is not yet ready to say how he will ensure Israeli forces leave Lebanon, after being asked about Prime Minister Netanyahu's statement that Israel will keep troops there. Trump said he would 'take a look' at the issue during a White House event, without offering a timeline or specific response.
US President Donald Trump acknowledged on Monday that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has staked out a position to keep Israeli forces in Lebanon, but offered no clear answer on how he would enforce a withdrawal. Asked by a reporter what he would do to ensure Israeli forces leave Lebanon, Trump replied, 'Well, I'm not going to tell you what I'm going to do,' before adding that he would 'take a look' at the issue. The remarks came during an Oval Office event focused on quantum computing and cybersecurity. The comment follows a series of recent exchanges between Trump and Netanyahu over Lebanon. As The Zioneer reported on Thursday, Netanyahu told Trump directly that Israel would not withdraw from Lebanon and would not abandon northern residents, according to a senior Israeli official. Trump has in recent days publicly urged Israel to be 'gentler' in Lebanon operations and pressed for a withdrawal timeline. The president has also said he can prevent Israel from striking Lebanon because 'they do as I say.' No further details were provided in the brief exchange, and it remains unclear whether the U.S. intends to take concrete steps or whether the issue will be discussed further in upcoming bilateral calls.
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