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Trump 'caught off guard' by Israeli bombings in Syria, Gaza church last week, says White House
US President Donald Trump sitting with Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House. File Image / Reuters
US President Donald Trump was caught 'off-guard' by Israel's unprecedented air strikes against Syria last week, the White House has said. Trump called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu after receiving the news of Israeli strikes in Syria and asked him to 'rectify' the matter.
The president was, similarly, surprised by Israel's airstrike on the only Catholic church in Gaza that killed at least three people. The White House said he strongly condemned the attack on the church to Netanyahu and asked the prime minister to release a statement a statement calling the strike a mistake.
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'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,' press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
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