U.S. President Donald Trump has sharply criticized Israel’s ongoing military operations in Lebanon, saying that too many people are being killed. Speaking during a bilateral meeting with the Emir of Qatar on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France, Trump said Israel has been fighting Hezbollah for a long time but is unable to suppress the group without harming others. He questioned the logic of destroying entire residential buildings in search of Hezbollah members, noting that many civilians live in those buildings.

Trump also proposed a new diplomatic approach to the crisis, suggesting that Syria could be more effective than Israel in dealing with Hezbollah. He said he had advised Israel to let Syria handle the matter, expressing confidence that Syria could do the job more precisely. Analysts cited in the report said Trump’s remarks reflect unease within the U.S. administration over civilian deaths caused by Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon. Despite his criticism, Trump emphasized that his relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu remains excellent.