Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Lebanese Speaker Nabih Berri to Sayyed Nasrallah: On the day of your martyrdom, I recall your voice echoing across the lands: 'Standing against falsehood, even if it leads to martyrdom, will unveil all masks; that is a true Hussaini victory'
Larijani: Resistance was born in this arena, and Lebanon today stands as a fortified trench against the Israeli entity
Larijani: Lebanon may be small in size, but its people are great and strong
Larijani: The Israeli attack on Qatar was clear evidence of Sayyed Nasrallah’s repeated talk about Israeli aggression against countries across the region
Larijani: It has now become evident that the positions voiced by Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah over the past decades were accurate
Larijani: The region has witnessed many developments since my last visit
Ali Larijani, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council: One of the objectives of this visit is to take part in the ceremonies honoring the martyrs who defended Lebanon
IRGC: Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah and Sayyed Hashem Safieddine have made the Resistance front a symbol of the Islamic nation's dignity and a strategic force on both the regional and global levels
The UN Security Council rejects a Russian-Chinese draft resolution to postpone the reimposition of sanctions on Iran.
Chinese delegate to the Security Council: The Israeli-American attack on Iran's nuclear facilities made things very difficult.

Trump 'caught off guard' by Israeli strikes on Syria: White House

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 22 Jul 2025 11:16
3 Min Read

US President Donald Trump was reportedly surprised by Israeli airstrikes on Damascus and the bombing of a Catholic church in Gaza.

Listen
  • x
  • Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, hands President Donald Trump a folder during a meeting in the Blue Room of the White House, Monday, July 7, 2025, in Washington (AP)
    Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, right, hands US President Donald Trump a folder during a meeting in the Blue Room of the White House, Monday, July 7, 2025, in Washington (AP)

US President Donald Trump was "caught off guard" by Israeli strikes on Syria the previous week, said White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt, adding that he subsequently addressed the matter in discussions with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

"Israel" had carried out strikes targeting the capital Damascus, as well as the southern city of Sweida, which has a Druze-majority population, claiming that the objective was to exert pressure on the Syrian government to pull back its forces from the area due to the continuing clashes taking place there.

Leavitt informed reporters during a press briefing that Trump "was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also the bombing of a Catholic church in Gaza."

"The president enjoys a good working relationship with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu and stays in frequent communication with him. He was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and the bombing of the Catholic church in Gaza ... and in both cases, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify these situations," Leavitt said, highlighting the ceasefire reached in Syria.

Related News

Syria-Israeli talks collapse over last-minute Sweida corridor demand

Militants attack towns in Hama Countryside as sectarian violence rises

Moreover, the White House spokesperson referenced reports of additional civilian casualties in Gaza while stating that the president "never likes seeing this" and further claiming that Trump desires "the killing to stop," seeks a ceasefire, and calls for the release of all captives.

In a Sunday article by Axios, six US officials expressed increasing frustrations with Netanyahu regarding Syria and other recent developments, with some cautioning that his relationship with Trump might worsen as a consequence.

Netanyahu likened to a 'child that won't behave'

According to reports, the Trump administration has grown increasingly concerned about Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent military actions in Syria, with multiple senior officials characterizing the strikes as irresponsible and escalating tensions in the region.

One White House official sharply criticized Netanyahu's behavior in a July 21 Axios report by stating, "Bibi acted like a madman, he bombs everything all the time," while another official similarly disparaged the Israeli leader by remarking, "He's a child who just won't behave."

"The feeling is that every day there is something new. What the f**?" one senior official told Axios, describing the White House’s growing irritation toward the Israeli prime minister.

White House officials are reportedly growing more convinced that Netanyahu's recent decisions reflect domestic political calculations rather than genuine concerns for regional security. One official told Axios that "Bibi's political agenda is clouding his judgment; this will prove to be a significant miscalculation for him in the long run," while another provided a more crude assessment, "The Israelis need to pull their head out of their asses."

  • Syria
  • Karoline Leavitt
  • Israel
  • Benjamin Netanyahu
  • Israeli war on Syria
  • Donald Trump

Most Read

Iran exposes Israeli nuclear projects in major security breach

Iran exposes Israeli nuclear projects in major security breach

  • Politics
  • 24 Sep 2025
27 wounded in Eilat drone explosion amid failed interception

27 wounded Israelis in Eilat drone explosion amid failed interception

  • Politics
  • 24 Sep 2025
'Israel' drone strike wipes out family in South Lebanon, 3 kids killed

'Israel' drone strike wipes out family in South Lebanon, 3 kids killed

  • Politics
  • 21 Sep 2025
Flames and smoke rise following Israeli airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Wednesday, September 10, 2025 (AP)

Israeli aggression targets Sanaa, Yemeni defenses repel air assault

  • Politics
  • 25 Sep 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Hezbollah's Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem gives a speech on the anniversary of the martyrdom of Sayyed Nasrallah and Sayyed Safieddine, September 27, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Legacy, path of Sayyed Hassan and Sayyed Hashem eternal: Sheikh Naim

Ansar Allah leader Sayyed Abdul Malik al-Houthi gives a speech for Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah's anniversary of martyrdom, on September 27, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Sayyed Nasrallah was region safety valve versus enemy plots: Al-Houthi

Hezbollah supporters shout slogans during an event commemorating the anniversary of the martyrdom of Hezbollah leader Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah in Beirut, Lebanon, Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Lebanon honors Sayyed Hassan, Sayyed Hashem's martyrdom, legacies

The Ukrainian Air Force's F-16 fighter jets fly over a Patriot Air and Missile Defense System in an undisclosed location in Ukraine, Sunday, Aug. 4, 2024. (AP)
Politics

Zelensky confirms Israeli Patriot operating in Ukraine

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS