USA
White House confirms US did not approve Israel’s strikes on Syria
President Trump was said to be ‘caught off guard’ by the operation, while his press secretary added that he ‘hated seeing the pictures of starvation’ in Gaza
July 22, 2025 09:25
President Trump was said to be ‘caught off guard’ by the operation, while his press secretary added that he ‘hated seeing the pictures of starvation’ in Gaza
July 22, 2025 09:25The White House has confirmed that Israel’s recent strikes on Syria were conducted without the knowledge or approval of the US.
Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters that President Trump was “caught off guard” by the operation, which Jerusalem said was intended to protect the Druze minority from sectarian persecution.
Recent weeks have seen violent clashes between the Druze and Bedouin tribes, which left over 1,000 dead. Syrian security forces were deployed several times to the majority-Druze city of Sweida to restore order, but are alleged to have joined in with the massacre of the community’s civilians.
In response, Israel launched a number of strikes against Syrian forces, as well as on military and governmental infrastructure in the capital, Damascus.
Asked about the US response to the campaign, Leavitt said Trump was surprised by the move but emphasised the strength of his relationship with the Israeli government.
She said: “The president enjoys a good working relationship with Bibi Netanyahu, and stays in frequent communication with him.
"He was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also the bombing of a Catholic Church in Gaza [referring to the Holy Family Church, which the IDF had been accidentally hit by shrapnel from a shell].
"In both accounts, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations.”
Leavitt also indicated that Trump was uncomfortable with certain aspects of the war in Gaza, saying that he “hated seeing the pictures of starvation of women and children who desperately need that aid”.
Israel has consistently maintained that a sufficient supply of aid is reaching Gaza and that shortages are the result of theft and Hamas’ attempts to disrupt the work of the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), a private company operating aid distribution in the Strip with the backing of Israel and the US.
"The president never likes to see that. He wants the killing to end, and he wants to negotiate a ceasefire in this region,” continued Leavitt.
"He wants to see all of the hostages released from Gaza. That has been a top priority for this president."
It comes after Axios quoted several unnamed sources within the Trump administration expressing discomfort with Israel’s operation in Syria.
One of the officials reportedly said of Netanyahu: “Bibi acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time.
"This could undermine what Trump is trying to do.”
Another apparently suggested that Washington is growing increasingly skeptical of the Israeli prime minister’s reliability, adding: “Netanyahu is sometimes like a child who just won't behave.”
The Prime Minister’s Office has not yet commented on the claims in the report.
To get more news, click here to sign up for our free daily newsletter.