Tensions Rise as US Officials Slam Netanyahu’s Syria Strikes as Reckless
The White House is expressing deep concern over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s recent military actions in Syria, according to multiple US officials cited by Axios. The officials described Netanyahu’s approach as erratic, with one labeling him a “madman” who “bombs everything all the time,” suggesting his actions threaten President Donald Trump’s regional peace initiatives. Another senior official voiced frustration after an Israeli tank shell struck a church in Gaza, killing three people, in what the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) called an accidental strike. “The feeling is that every day there is something new. What the f***?” the official remarked.
Israel’s airstrikes began on Tuesday, targeting Syrian forces advancing into Sweida after accusations that the Syrian government killed dozens in the Druze-majority city. On Wednesday, the IDF escalated its operations, hitting key buildings in Damascus, including military headquarters and sites near the presidential palace. A third US official noted growing skepticism within the Trump administration about Netanyahu’s policies, likening him to “a child who just won’t behave.”
The strikes followed a US-brokered ceasefire, with US special envoy to Syria Tom Barrack urging Israel to halt its attacks to allow for diplomatic efforts. Israel initially agreed but resumed bombing on Wednesday, prompting complaints from Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and US envoys Barrack and Steve Witkoff. “The bombing in Syria caught the president and the White House by surprise,” an official told Axios, noting Trump’s frustration at seeing continued violence in a region he aims to stabilize.
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An Israeli official defended the strikes, explaining they were necessary to protect the Druze community in Israel, who share ties with the Druze in Syria. The official claimed Trump had previously encouraged Israel to maintain control over parts of Syria and expressed surprise at the US backlash. Meanwhile, Trump personally addressed the Gaza church incident in a call with Netanyahu, who issued a statement expressing regret, according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt.
The ongoing friction highlights tensions between the US and Israel, despite recent high-level meetings between Trump and Netanyahu. The Israeli official suggested domestic pressures, including support for Israel’s Druze minority, drove the decision to act, but US officials warned that Netanyahu’s aggressive approach could harm Israel’s standing in Washington and complicate broader peace efforts in the region.