President Donald Trump said Israel can 'leave Hezbollah to Syria,' according to remarks reported by Israeli media Tuesday. Trump added that Secretary of State Marco Rubio assured him Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons — warning that 'all hell will break loose' if Tehran does.
President Donald Trump added a nuclear assurance to his Tuesday remarks, stating that Secretary of State Marco Rubio had assured him Iran will not obtain nuclear weapons — warning that 'all hell will break loose' if Tehran does. The comment, reported by Israeli media at 12:57 Jerusalem, accompanied Trump's suggestion that Israel can 'leave Hezbollah to Syria,' a theme he has sounded repeatedly in recent days.
At 12:57 Jerusalem this afternoon, The Zioneer reported six versions of Trump's remarks that sharpened and expanded in successive Israeli media accounts. The earliest version (12:57) quoted Trump saying the Lebanon fight has lasted too long and he proposed Syria handle Hezbollah. Subsequent reports (all carrying the same 12:57 timestamp) added that Trump told KAN 11 Israel took 'forever' and should have 'finished' the matter quickly; suggested Syria would do a better job; triggered analyst warnings of a potential massacre of Lebanese minorities; and, finally, included Trump criticizing IDF conduct in Lebanon and urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to act more responsibly. The nuclear assurance from Rubio — the new development — appeared alongside the final version.
As The Zioneer reported earlier Tuesday (13:21), analyst Yair Goldblatt assessed that Trump recognizes Israeli fighting in Lebanon will continue, while also noting Trump's repeated proposal that Syrian forces handle Hezbollah — a notion Israel strongly opposes. On Sunday (June 14, 18:59 Jerusalem), Trump denounced IDF strikes in Beirut and called for a cessation of attacks on Hezbollah. On Monday (June 15, 19:16 Jerusalem), he said he hoped the Lebanon situation can be resolved and acknowledged the need to talk to Hezbollah. A commentator on June 12 (22:39 Jerusalem) warned that Hezbollah immunity in an Iran deal would mark a serious Israeli diplomatic failure.
It remains unverified whether Israel or Syria have responded officially to Trump's 'leave Hezbollah to Syria' proposal. The precise context and timing of Trump's exchange with Rubio were not elaborated in the initial reports.
14 developments
- StrongTrump blasts Netanyahu's Lebanon policy, urges Israel to let Syria handle Hezbollah
- ConfirmedTrump denounces IDF strikes in Beirut, calls for cessation of attacks on Hezbollah
- DevelopingTrump, in NBC Interview, Endorses 'More Surgical' Strikes on Hezbollah and Praises Syrian Leadership
- DevelopingTrump sends tough messages to Iran, warns Tehran would bear blame for escalation
Source and signal
- Internal intake