Trump Says He Believes Israel Will Pull Back From Lebanon: "I Spoke About It With Bibi"

As Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a security consultation Wednesday evening amid escalating tensions in the Persian Gulf, President Donald Trump weighed in on the situation in Lebanon from Ankara.

Speaking ahead of his meeting with Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa, Trump said he believes Israel "will withdraw from Lebanon soon," adding that he had "spoken about it with Bibi." He elaborated: "The Israelis want to do it. Israel and Lebanon are getting along." Standing alongside al-Sharaa, Trump went further, suggesting that "Syria can help with Hezbollah — I think I will remove them from the list of state sponsors of terror."

On the diplomatic track, it was reported that Israel and Lebanon are set to hold a two-day round of talks in Rome, tentatively scheduled for next week — though the meeting may be pushed back by two weeks, pending Lebanese President Joseph Aoun's visit to the White House. Aoun offered a candid explanation for why he agreed to enter into negotiations with Israel, telling reporters: "I chose negotiations because I could not stand by as a spectator while my country was being led into the abyss to serve the interests of another country."

The Lebanese president elaborated on his reasoning: "I had to take a step that could stop the Israeli war machine, reduce the loss of life and the destruction of villages, and ultimately bring an end to the occupation. This step has the support of the majority of Lebanese — including the Shiite community, which has paid the heaviest price in the wars fought in the south." Aoun is expected to travel to Washington next week for a meeting with President Trump at the White House, but has ruled out any trilateral meeting with Netanyahu under American auspices.