The United States has voiced strong concerns over "Israel’s" repeated military operations inside Syria, warning that continued strikes could destabilize the country and derail efforts to reach a security agreement with Tel Aviv, Axios reported on Monday, citing senior US officials.

According to the report, the Trump administration is closely monitoring Israeli raids near the Syrian border and has urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to halt actions that risk turning Syria’s new government into an adversary.

“We are trying to tell Bibi he has to stop this because if it continues, he will self-destruct,” one official said, referring to Netanyahu by his nickname.

Trump supports Syrian leadership amid Israeli strikes

US President Donald Trump has publicly backed Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, highlighting the importance of maintaining dialogue with Damascus. On Monday, Trump posted on Truth Social that it was “very important that Israel maintain a strong and true dialogue with Syria, and that nothing takes place that will interfere with Syria's evolution into a prosperous State.”

According to Axios, the Trump administration has repeatedly sided with the Syrian government in disputes with "Israel", marking a rare US position in the region. The US has engaged in behind-the-scenes diplomacy to prevent further escalation after an Israeli raid in Beit Jinn, in the southern Damascus countryside, last Friday left at least 13 Israeli troops injured and killed 20 Syrians.

Read more: UAE strongly condemns Israeli strikes on Damascus suburbs: MoFA

Israeli raids exacerbate tensions

The Axios report noted that Israeli occupation forces did not provide prior notice of the operation, nor did they alert Syrian military channels as in previous cases. Israeli officials claimed that the targets were affiliated with Hamas and Hezbollah and had allegedly planned operations targeting "Israel".

However, after successfully detaining the individuals, the Israeli force was ambushed by the town's residents, resulting in an abrupt withdrawal in Beit Jinn, where an Israeli Humvee vehicle was abandoned and eventually destroyed in a subsequent Israeli strike.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry said that the Israeli incursion and the killing of civilians in Beit Jinn were a clear "war crime."

US officials described Netanyahu’s approach as excessively aggressive, warning that his “shoot first, ask questions later” strategy in Syria is undermining diplomatic efforts.

“Syria doesn’t want problems with Israel. This isn’t Lebanon. But Bibi is seeing ghosts everywhere,” a senior US official told Axios.

Diplomatic implications

The recent Israeli actions have complicated US efforts to advance a security deal between Syria and "Israel", which Washington hopes could eventually pave the way for Syria to join normalization talks. Additionally, US envoy to Syria Tom Barrack and other officials have conducted urgent discussions with both Syrian and Israeli counterparts to de-escalate tensions. Barrack met with al-Sharaa in Damascus on Monday to reaffirm US support and caution against retaliatory actions.

On its part, Syria's Foreign Ministry urged the United Nations Security Council and the Arab League to intervene immediately to halt “recurring aggression” and to impose deterrent measures ensuring compliance with international law, the UN Charter, and Syria’s territorial sovereignty.

The Ministry also reaffirmed Syria’s right to defend its land and population under international law. “These crimes only strengthen Syria's determination to firmly uphold its rights, its sovereignty, and its rejection of any form of occupation and aggression,” the statement said.

Read more: IOF military incursion around Beit Jinn triggers civilian displacement