Trump Says Syria Will Work With Hezbollah If Israel Fails in Lebanon

What happened

Naharnet reports that U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday during a G7 summit that he had suggested Israel rely on Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to deal with Lebanon’s Hezbollah if Israel’s current campaign causes excessive casualties. Trump described Sharaa as doing an "amazing job" and said that if Israel "can't do the job without killing everyone else," then "Syria will do the job."

Outside Brief is treating this as a source-led account. Any disputed responsibility, casualty figure, battlefield claim or single-source assertion should be treated as unconfirmed/hearsay unless confirmed by another reliable source or a named official. Trump criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his handling of the conflict in Lebanon, saying Netanyahu "has to be more responsible" regarding Lebanon and Hezbollah, and expressed dissatisfaction with the prolonged nature of Israel’s campaign. He said Israel "should have been able to do the job faster," warning that the ongoing conflict negatively impacts the broader Iran deal.

The president also condemned a recent Israeli airstrike targeting an apartment building in Beirut’s southern suburbs, describing the attack as "vicious" and "too much," and noting that the buildings struck often house civilians who are not affiliated with Hezbollah. Naharnet’s coverage does not independently confirm the strike attribution or casualty details.

Known from the source

• Donald Trump spoke at a G7 summit on June 16, 2026.
• Trump said that Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa could handle Hezbollah in Lebanon if Israel is unable to do so without causing high casualties.
• Trump criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s handling of the campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
• Trump described an Israeli airstrike on an apartment building in Beirut’s southern suburbs as "vicious" and "too much."
• Naharnet is the source reporting these Trump remarks.

What remains unclear

This commentary from Trump comes amid ongoing tensions and fighting around south Lebanon, with Hezbollah and Israel engaged in hostilities and various diplomatic efforts underway, including talks involving Lebanon and regional actors. The situation remains fluid, and claims from involved parties are yet to be independently verified.

What remains unclear: Confirm whether the central claim is corroborated; until then treat it as unconfirmed/hearsay. Exact context and full quotes of Trump’s remarks at the G7 summit. Verified details, timing, and casualty figures of the Israeli strike on the Beirut apartment building. Independent confirmation of who carried out the strike in Beirut’s southern suburbs.

Evidence note

This story contains report-led claims. The article keeps those claims attributed and treats them as unconfirmed/hearsay unless independently corroborated.

Original source: Naharnet Lebanon. Open the source.