White House Expresses Concern Over Gaza Church Bombing and Syrian Intervention as Diplomatic Tensions Emerge
President Donald Trump was reportedly “caught off guard” by recent Israeli military operations in Syria and the Gaza Strip, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Monday.
The comments suggest a rare public divergence between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who have typically maintained a strong political and foreign policy alignment, particularly concerning recent actions against Iran’s nuclear program.
READ: “No Plan B”: US Envoy Pledges Support For Damascus Amid Deadly Clashes, Israeli Airstrikes
Leavitt confirmed that President Trump was surprised by both the bombing of Gaza’s only Catholic church last week, which killed three people, and Israel’s intervention in Syria’s sectarian violence, including a strike on Damascus.
“In both accounts, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations,” Leavitt told reporters, while affirming Trump has “a good working relationship” with Netanyahu.
The Israeli actions threaten to complicate Trump’s efforts to end the conflict in Gaza and support the new Syrian government as it emerges from years of civil war.
READ: U.S. Sen. Rick Scott: Florida’s Citrus Industry Receives Long-Awaited Disaster Relief
Trump’s special envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, expressed concern to The Associated Press, stating Israel’s intervention in Syria “creates another very confusing chapter” and “came at a very bad time.”
Please make a small donation to the Tampa Free Press to help sustain independent journalism. Your contribution enables us to continue delivering high-quality, local, and national news coverage.
Connect with us: Follow the Tampa Free Press on Facebook and Twitter for breaking news and updates.
Sign up: Subscribe to our free newsletter for a curated selection of top stories delivered straight to your inbox.
