Trump’s envoy in Syria called the Israeli airstrikes on a base “an unnecessary escalation.” This was another instance where the Trump administration condemned Israel’s military operation after the two countries carried out a joint attack on Iran in February.
The U.S. special envoy for Syria on Tuesday accused Israel of striking an airbase in the country, less than a day after White House envoy Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the demilitarization of Gaza. Tom Barrack, the special presidential envoy for Syria and U.S. ambassador to Turkey, wrote in a post on X: “We are deeply concerned that the confirmed Israeli airstrikes on the Abu al-Duhur airbase are an unnecessary escalation that does not contribute to regional stability.”
Netanyahu’s plans often diverged from the White House strategy, which oscillated between focusing on war and peace. President Donald Trump tried to influence Israel after returning to the White House, with his attention divided between the war in Iran, the fight against drug trafficking in South America, and Russia’s four‑year war against Ukraine.
Disagreements over peace plans and regional policy
Last week, Netanyahu rejected a White House‑backed peace plan under which Hamas would have to relinquish power in Gaza and Israeli troops would have to withdraw from the strip.
In Syria, Israeli forces struck a country led by one of the leaders to whom President Trump is favorably disposed. Syrian President Ahmed al‑Sharaa visited the White House last November, and Trump described al‑Sharaa as “a young, attractive guy, a tough guy.”
Barrack wrote in his post criticizing the strike: “The Al‑Sharra government has not taken a predatory position and has not supported proxy forces. It has, in essence, repeatedly expressed a preference for de‑escalation with Israel. The United States in the past and will continue in the future to hold discussions to encourage diplomatic resolution rather than forceful confrontation between the two countries.”
In a statement on Tuesday, the Syrian Foreign Ministry called the attack “an unjustified act of aggression, a blatant violation of Syria’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and a dangerous escalation that threatens security and stability in the region.”
Previous disagreements and tense negotiations
This is far from the first time in recent months that differences have arisen between the Trump administration and the Netanyahu government. Trump had a heated phone call with the Israeli prime minister in June after Israel struck Lebanon, complicating U.S. negotiations for a ceasefire with Iran.
“We have a little disagreement over Lebanon,” he said at a G7 press conference later that month in France. “I say: ‘You can act a little softer, Bibi. You don’t have to take down the building every time someone from Hezbollah goes in there.'”
The Israeli Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment.
