Washington (TDI): US President Donald Trump cautioned Israel on Monday against actions that could unsettle Syria’s new leadership, issuing the warning just days after an Israeli operation in southern Syria left 13 people dead.
Posting on his Truth Social account, Trump said it was crucial for Israel to maintain “a strong and true dialogue with Syria,” adding that no moves should be made that would disrupt what he described as Syria’s path toward becoming a stable and prosperous state.
Trump voiced confidence in Syria’s new president, Ahmad Al-Sharaa, who visited the White House in November, a visit the administration hailed as historic. Since Sharaa’s coalition ousted former ruler Bashar Assad last year, the White House has been advocating a security arrangement between Israel and Syria.
But tensions have escalated as Israel continues its air and ground strikes across Syria. Friday’s operation, which Israeli officials said targeted an extremist group, was the deadliest yet.
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Trump, however, praised Sharaa’s leadership, saying the Syrian president “is working diligently to make sure good things happen, and that both Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together.”
He added that Washington was committed to helping Syria stay on track with reconstruction efforts and broader political reforms after years of civil war.
A breakthrough in Israel–Syria ties, Trump noted, would bolster wider efforts to stabilise the Middle East, especially after the fragile ceasefire that halted fighting in Gaza in October.
Beyond the immediate tensions, analysts say Washington’s approach reflects a broader effort to reshape regional alignments after years of upheaval. With Syria attempting to rebuild its state institutions and re-enter the diplomatic mainstream, any friction between Damascus and Tel Aviv could complicate a fragile moment for the region.
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Observers also note that both Israel and Syria face mounting internal pressures, making long-term stability difficult to guarantee. While the United States hopes to use this period to encourage dialogue, the path toward meaningful cooperation remains uncertain and heavily dependent on the actions of regional actors on the ground.
For now, US officials appear focused on keeping communication channels open and preventing escalation. Whether Trump’s warning will alter Israel’s strategy, or whether Syria can maintain its current trajectory under Sharaa, will become clearer in the weeks ahead as diplomatic efforts continue to unfold.
