Trump tells Netanyahu to remove Israeli troops from Lebanon, Syria – report

Peloni:  Acquiescing to Trump’s request would be a strategic mistake by Netanyahu and he would pay a huge political price for doing so.  Notably, Netanyahu is attending a memorial for Sen. Graham next Tuesday and he is trying to arrange a meeting with Trump during that trip.  So far, no meeting has been scheduled.

Despite pressure from US, Israeli defense officials remain suspicious of al-Sharaa government

All Israel News Staff | Published: July 15, 2026

IDF soldiers and a tank operate in southern Lebanon on March 21, 2026. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)IDF soldiers and a tank operate in southern Lebanon on March 21, 2026. (photo credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON’S UNIT)

U.S. President Donald Trump asked Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to remove Israeli troops from Lebanon and Syria in a recent phone call, Axios reports.

“They don’t want you there. You should redeploy,” Trump reportedly told Netanyahu in a phone conversation last Thursday, according to a U.S. official who spoke with Axios.

According to Israel Hayom, Trump conveyed the Syrian demand for the withdrawal of IDF troops from its territory, but did not present it as an American demand.

The phone call between the two leaders came a day after Trump met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkey.

In the phone call, Trump also asked Netanyahu to renew negotiations with Syria on the security situation at the border, with the withdrawal of the IDF forces as a goal to be reached in the negotiations, Israel Hayom reported.

President Trump has been supportive of interim President al-Sharaa and is eager to see relations between the two neighbors improve. Trump has been pushing Israel for several months to resume security talks aimed at reaching an agreement.

A statement released by Netanyahu’s office said that “The Prime Minister, on his part, raised the need for security zones along Israel’s borders.”

Israeli security officials are suspicious of the motives of the al-Sharaa government, given the outbreak of several waves of violence against the Druze, the Alawites, and the Kurds.

Additionally, Israeli officials do not believe al-Sharaa has sufficient control over the militias affiliated with his own government, especially as some of those militias continue to receive funding and backing from Turkey.

Also, since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in Syria, and the installation of the al-Sharaa government, Turkish forces have been establishing a significant presence in the country, initially as military advisors, but also through the establishment of permanent military bases.

IDF sources told The Jerusalem Post that they were unaware of any discussion of Israeli withdrawal from Syria, and that there has been no change in troop deployment in the Syrian security zones.

The issue of the security zones in Lebanon was also raised in the phone call between Trump and Netanyahu. However, in contrast to Syria, Israel and the Lebanese government are in frequent dialogue over the situation in southern Lebanon, where the IDF maintains a large security zone to prevent the Iranian-backed Shia terror group Hezbollah from attacking Israeli territory.

Representatives from the two countries met on Tuesday in Rome to discuss the implementation of the framework agreement signed on June 26.

As part of that agreement, the IDF is set to withdraw from two “pilot zones,” allowing the Lebanese military to enter the territory and implement measures to prevent the return of Hezbollah to those areas.

The IDF reportedly wants to ensure the removal of all Hezbollah infrastructure from the two pilot zones before withdrawing.

Meanwhile, despite reports in Hebrew media of an upcoming visit by Netanyahu to Washington, no announcement has been made by the Prime Minister’s Office of such a visit.

July 15, 2026 | 17 Comments »

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    • what was the deal Italy made with the PLO in the ‘70s and how did it lead to the release of the leader hijackers of the Achille Lauro and murderers of Leon Klinghoffer and the others getting slaps on the wrist in an Italian court?

      +13 The deal between Italy and the PLO, known as the Lodo Moro, was a secret, unwritten pact brokered in the 1970s by then-Foreign Minister Aldo Moro. Under this agreement, Italy tolerated PLO and PFLP political activity and allowed them free passage through Italy. In exchange, the Palestinian factions guaranteed they would not conduct armed operations or terror attacks on Italian soil.This historical deal shaped Italy’s handling of the 1985 Achille Lauro hijacking, where four Palestinian militants took the cruise ship hostage and murdered 69-year-old American passenger Leon Klinghoffer. The fallout led to the hijackers avoiding maximum penalties and the suspected mastermind escaping due to several factors:PLO Diplomatic Intervention: PLO representative Abu Abbas (Mohammed Abul al-Abbas) negotiated an end to the hijacking in exchange for safe passage to PLO headquarters in Tunisia, positioning the PLO as a mediator rather than a sponsor.The Sigonella Standoff: After U.S. fighter jets forced the Egyptian plane carrying the hijackers to land at a NATO base in Sicily, Italian Prime Minister Bettino Craxi claimed Italian territorial jurisdiction, surrounding U.S. Navy SEALs with Italian troops to take the terrorists into Italian custody.Diplomatic Immunity for the Mastermind: Italy allowed Abu Abbas to leave the country for Yugoslavia before the U.S. could secure his arrest, citing diplomatic immunity since he was traveling on a diplomatic passport.Lighter Sentences and Early Releases: Because the actual gunman and accomplices cooperated and surrendered, an Italian court in 1986 assigned joint blame and handed down convictions ranging from 15 to 30 years rather than life sentences. Due to normal Italian penal code reductions and later pardon agreements, the convicted hijackers were quietly released or expelled from Italy after serving only fractions of their sentences.

      • how was the lead hijacker of the Achille Lauro and murderer of Leon Klinghoffer apprehended?

        +3 The four direct hijackers of the Achille Lauro surrendered to Egyptian authorities on October 9, 1985. On October 10, they and the operation’s mastermind, Muhammad Zaidan (Abu Abbas), boarded an Egyptian aircraft bound for Tunisia. U.S. Navy F-14 fighters intercepted the plane over the Mediterranean Sea and forced it to land at the NATO airbase in Sigonella, Sicily. U.S. and Italian troops surrounded the jet, and the hijackers were taken into Italian custody.While Italy tried and convicted the hijackers, Abu Abbas was allowed to leave for Yugoslavia due to diplomatic immunity. He remained a fugitive until April 2003, when he was captured in Baghdad by U.S. forces during the Iraq War. Abbas later died in U.S. custody in March 2004.You can read more about the U.S. military operation on the National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum site or explore the historical details documented by History.com

      • where are the other members if the achille lauro hijacking and murder gang now?

        +10 The four men who hijacked the Achille Lauro in 1985 and the mastermind behind the operation are all deceased or were released from prison long ago:Youssef Magied al-Molqi: The on-scene commander and the man who shot Leon Klinghoffer. After being given a 30-year sentence in Italy, he temporarily escaped during a 1996 furlough but was recaptured in Spain. He served about 23 years, was released for good behavior, and was deported to Syria in 2009.Bassam al-Askar: The youngest of the hijackers. He was a juvenile during the incident and received a separate, lighter sentence (17 years). His whereabouts today are not publicly tracked.Ibrahim Fatayer Abdelatif: Served 23 years in an Italian prison and was released early for good behavior. His current status is not formally verified, though his release prompted extensive diplomatic appeals by his lawyers to remain in Italy.Ahmad Marrouf al-Assadi: Served the remainder of his sentence for his involvement and was released from Italian custody. His whereabouts today are unknown.Abu Abbas (Muhammad Zaidan): The mastermind who planned the hijacking and ordered the killings. He lived in Iraq under the protection of Saddam Hussein and was sentenced in absentia by Italy. He was captured in Baghdad by U.S. special operations forces in 2003 and died in American custody in 2004.

        • Why I still support the Iraq war effort, bungled (as well as betrayed by Obama) as it was. Saddam Hussein was providing safe haven and operational bases for international terrorists the same way East Germany did. American troops also found a factory for putting sarin gas in perfume bottles – recall the terrorist attack using sarin gas in Japan- and a hijacking school using a downed plane to practice on.

          • is Italy pro-Israel

            +2 Italy’s diplomatic stance toward Israel has shifted to a much more critical position. While Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government previously maintained a supportive stance on Israel’s right to self-defense, relations have severely deteriorated following the Gaza conflict and rising regional tensions.The primary turning points in this shifting relationship include:Suspension of Defense Cooperation: In April 2026, the Italian government formally suspended the automatic renewal of a two-decade-old bilateral defense agreement with Israel. This pact had previously facilitated military procurement and technological cooperation.Diplomatic Friction: Tensions escalated significantly after Israeli forces fired warning shots that struck Italian UN peacekeepers (UNIFIL) in Lebanon. Prime Minister Meloni and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani publicly condemned these actions, labeling them completely unacceptable.Broader Regional Stances: Italy has raised concerns over Israel’s military conduct in Lebanon, restricted access to religious sites, and avoided broader escalations in the Middle East.You can read more about this diplomatic rift in the Al Jazeera coverage of the suspended defense pact and the BBC report on Italy’s decision.

            • did israeli warning shots hot italian unifil soldiers

              +1 Yes, Israeli forces fired warning shots at a UNIFIL convoy carrying Italian peacekeepers in southern Lebanon, damaging a vehicle but causing no injuries.The incident took place when the logistics convoy departed from the Shama base heading to Beirut. After Israeli forces fired warning shots, the convoy halted and safely returned to base. The action prompted the Italian government to summon the Israeli ambassador for an explanation, and subsequently led Rome to announce the suspension of its bilateral defense cooperation agreement with Israel.

              • why did israeli troops fire warning shots at unifil vehicles carrying italian peace keepers

                +1 Israeli forces fired warning shots at a UNIFIL logistics convoy carrying Italian peacekeepers in Lebanon to halt its movement, as it was traveling through or approaching an active combat zone without prior coordination with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).The incident, which took place as the IDF carried out extensive airstrikes against Hezbollah targets, resulted in minor vehicle damage but no casualties. The convoy immediately stopped and returned to its base.The IDF typically requests that UN peacekeepers avoid active combat zones or coordinate their logistics movements in advance to ensure safety during operations. However, the shooting prompted strong backlash from Italian officials, including Defense Minister Guido Crosetto and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, who condemned the action as “unacceptable” and summoned the Israeli ambassador for an official protest.

                • are Italians stupid or just unwilling to cooperate with Israelis

                  +7 Neither is the case. Italy’s shifting relationship with Israel is driven by calculated political maneuvering, strategic defense interests, and shifting public opinion, rather than an inability to cooperate or a lack of intelligence.Several factors define the current diplomatic dynamics:Security Incidents: Diplomatic friction increased significantly following incidents in Lebanon where Israeli forces fired warning shots at Italian UNIFIL peacekeepers.Defense Suspensions: In response to regional conflicts, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni suspended the automatic renewal of a 2006 bilateral defense cooperation agreement with Israel. This halted joint military training, equipment transfers, and defense research.Shifting Public Sentiment: Public opinion in Italy has hardened regarding the conflict, with recent polling indicating a majority of Italians hold unfavorable views of Israel’s military actions.Diplomatic Role: Despite the suspension of defense pacts, Italy remains heavily involved in attempting to stabilize the region. Rome recently hosted U.S.-mediated peace talks between Israeli and Lebanese officials aimed at implementing a ceasefire and border security framework.

                  Uh huh. “Good thinking.” – Jimmy Cagney, “ One,Two,Three.” (1961), Billy Wilder

                  https://youtu.be/DD5AQluWoIM?is=2Vu0VGQPWmdzI6Wg

                  • when was the achille lauro hijacked and when was Leon Klinghoffer murdered

                    The Italian cruise ship Achille Lauro was hijacked on October 7, 1985. Leon Klinghoffer was murdered by the hijackers on October 8, 1985.You can read more about the timeline of the hijacking and the tragic event directly on Wikipedia’s Achille Lauro hijacking page.

      • what happened to aldo moro

        +5 Aldo Moro, a five-time Italian Prime Minister and leader of the Christian Democratic Party, was kidnapped and murdered by the Red Brigades (Brigate Rosse), a militant left-wing terrorist organization, in the spring of 1978.The KidnappingOn March 16, 1978, the Red Brigades ambushed Moro’s motorcade in via Fani in Rome. The terrorists murdered all five of his police bodyguards and abducted Moro, taking him to a secret “people’s prison” for a 55-day captivity. The abduction happened on the exact day that the Italian Parliament was scheduled to hold a confidence vote on a new government—a historic coalition that Moro had orchestrated to include the Italian Communist Party.The Captivity and Government ResponseDuring his imprisonment, Moro wrote numerous letters to his family and government officials pleading for his life, urging negotiations, and even revealing state secrets. However, the Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giulio Andreotti, adopted a firm “no-negotiation” policy, refusing to exchange imprisoned Red Brigade members for Moro’s release.The MurderAfter 54 days of failed police searches and secret, rejected talks, the Red Brigades announced Moro’s “execution”. On May 9, 1978, the terrorists shot and killed him. His body was placed in the trunk of a red Renault 4 and abandoned on via Caetani in central Rome—symbolically located exactly halfway between the headquarters of the Christian Democrats and the Communist Party.Moro’s assassination remains one of the most traumatic events in modern Italian history, marking the bloody apex of the Years of Lead (a period of intense political and social turmoil in Italy from the late 1960s to the 1980s).

        Talk about karmic or divine payback.
        I repeat the question: “Are Italians stupid or unable to cooperate with Israelis (Jews)? Or both? Whose crazy idea was it to bring them back to Lebanon?

  3. Too fucking bad. They have no say. So long as terrorists operate in Syria and Lebanon, Israel will remain.

    “They don’t want you there. You should redeploy,” Trump reportedly told Netanyahu in a phone conversation last Thursday, according to a U.S. official who spoke with Axios.

  4. Trump says a lot of things. Some are legitimate, some are just for show. He’s trying his best to make friends with everyone. I’m sure that wise old Bibi knows how to deal with him by now. I very much doubt that he’d acquiesce to Trump’s request. I must give Bibi a lot of credit. He shows incredible patience. I would’ve responded in kind: Are you f-ing crazy?

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