US President Trump 'caught off guard' by Israeli strikes in Syria
Israel had launched strikes on the capital Damascus and the southern Druze-majority city of Sweida, saying it aimed to put pressure on the Syrian government to withdraw its troops from the region amid ongoing clashes there.
Trump "was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also the bombing of a Catholic church in Gaza," Leavitt told reporters at a press briefing.
"In both accounts, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations," she continued.
Netanyahu had visited the White House earlier this month, his third trip since Trump returned to power on January 20.
"The president enjoys a good working relationship with Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu, and stays in, you know, frequent communication with him," Leavitt said.
"When it came to Syria, we saw a de-escalation there."
US President Trump 'caught off guard' by Israeli strikes in SyriaUS President Trump 'caught off guard' by Israeli strikes in Syria
Israel and Syria on Friday entered a US-brokered ceasefire.
Also on Friday, Prime Minister Netanyahu called Pope Leo to express regret at the strike on the Catholic church in Gaza, blaming a "stray missile."
In May, Trump met with Syria's Islamist president Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia shortly after lifting many longstanding US sanctions against Damascus.
Trump later praised the leader, who led a major armed group that was once aligned with Al Qaeda and toppled the Syrian government in December.
The United States removed a bounty on Sharaa's head after he came to power.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Star
a minute ago
- The Star
'South Park' co-creator jokes he's 'terribly sorry' over premiere that drew White House anger
South Park co-creator Trey Parker had the briefest of responses Thursday to anger from the White House over the season premiere of the animated institution, which showed a naked President Donald Trump in bed with Satan. "We're terribly sorry,' Parker said, followed by a long, deadpan-comic stare. Parker was asked for his reaction to the fracas as he sat on the stage at San Diego's Comic-Con International at the beginning of a Comedy Central animation panel that also included his South Park partner Matt Stone, Beavis And Butt-Head creator Mike Judge, and actor Andy Samberg, who co-created the animated Digman! Earlier in the day, the White House issued a statement on the 27th season premiere, which aired Wednesday night. "This show hasn't been relevant for over 20 years and is hanging on by a thread with uninspired ideas in a desperate attempt for attention,' White House spokesperson Taylor Rogers said in the statement. "President Trump has delivered on more promises in just six months than any other president in our country's history - and no fourth-rate show can derail President Trump's hot streak.' In the episode, Trump sues the town of South Park when its residents challenge the presence of Jesus Christ - the actual person - in its elementary school. Photo: Comedy Central Later in the panel, Parker said they did get a note from their producers on Tuesday night's episode. "They said, 'OK, but we're gonna blur the penis,' and I said, 'No you're not gonna blur the penis,'' Parker said. The premiere also took aim at Paramount and its US$16mil recent settlement with Trump just hours after Parker and Stone signed a five-year deal with the company for 50 new episodes and streaming rights to previous seasons. The Los Angeles Times and other outlets report the deal was worth US$1.5bil. In the episode, Trump sues the town of South Park when its residents challenge the presence of Jesus Christ - the actual person - in its elementary school. Jesus tells them they ought to settle. "You guys saw what happened to CBS? Yeah, well, guess who owns CBS? Paramount,' Jesus says. "Do you really want to end up like Colbert?' CBS and parent Paramount Global cancelled Stephen Colbert's Late Show last week, days after Colbert sharply criticised Paramount's settlement of Trump's lawsuit over a 60 Minutes interview. CBS and Paramount executives said it was a financial decision to axe The Late Show. The efficiency of South Park production, and the brinksmanship of its creators, allow it to stay incredibly current for an animated series. "I don't know what next week's episode is going to be,' Parker said at Comic-Con. "Even just three days ago, we were like, 'I don't know if people are going to like this.'' – AP
Malay Mail
31 minutes ago
- Malay Mail
Trump: Australia will get ‘so much' of our ‘magnificent beef', others that refuse are ‘on notice'
WASHINGTON, July 25 — The United States will sell 'so much' beef to Australia, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday after Canberra relaxed import restrictions, adding that other countries that refused US beef products were on notice. Australia on Thursday said it would loosen biosecurity rules for US beef, something analysts predicted would not significantly increase US shipments because Australia is a major beef producer and exporter whose prices are much lower. 'We are going to sell so much to Australia because this is undeniable and irrefutable Proof that US Beef is the Safest and Best in the entire World,' Trump said in a post on Truth Social. 'The other Countries that refuse our magnificent Beef are ON NOTICE,' the post continued. Trump has attempted to renegotiate trade deals with numerous countries he says have taken advantage of the United States — a characterisation many economists dispute. 'For decades, Australia imposed unjustified barriers on US beef,' US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said in a statement, calling Australia's decision a 'major milestone in lowering trade barriers and securing market access for US farmers and ranchers.' Australia is not a significant importer of beef but the United States is and a production slump is forcing it to step up purchases. Last year, Australia shipped almost 400,000 metric tonnes of beef worth US$2.9 billion (RM12.2 billion) to the United States, with just 269 tonnes of US product moving the other way. Australian officials say the relaxation of restrictions was not part of any trade negotiations but the result of a years-long assessment of US biosecurity practices. Canberra has restricted US beef imports since 2003 due to concerns about bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease. Since 2019, it has allowed in meat from animals born, raised and slaughtered in the US but few suppliers were able to prove that their cattle had not been in Canada and Mexico. On Wednesday, Australia's agriculture ministry said US cattle traceability and control systems had improved enough that Australia could accept beef from cattle born in Canada or Mexico and slaughtered in the United States. The decision has caused some concern in Australia, where biosecurity is seen as essential to prevent diseases and pests from ravaging the farm sector. 'We need to know if (the government) is sacrificing our high biosecurity standards just so Prime Minister Anthony Albanese can obtain a meeting with US President Donald Trump,' shadow agriculture minister David Littleproud said in a statement. Australia, which imports more from the US than it exports, faces a 10 per cent across-the-board US tariff, as well 50 per cent tariffs on steel and aluminium. Trump has also threatened to impose a 200 per cent tariff on pharmaceuticals. Asked whether the change would help achieve a trade deal, Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell said: 'I'm not too sure.' 'We haven't done this in order to entice the Americans into a trade agreement,' he said. 'We think that they should do that anyway.' — Reuters
The Star
an hour ago
- The Star
Hong Kong issues arrest warrants for 19 overseas activists, offers bounties for 15
HONG KONG: Hong Kong's national security police announced arrest warrants for 19 activists based overseas, accusing them of subversion under a stringent national security law, marking the largest such tally yet. They are accused of organising or participating in the "Hong Kong Parliament", a group authorities in the Asian financial hub say aimed to subvert state power, under the law Beijing imposed in 2020 following months of pro-democracy protests in 2019. The activists are accused of having launched a referendum or run as candidates in the unofficial "Hong Kong Parliament" group, which authorities say aims at achieving self-determination and drafting a "Hong Kong constitution". Police, who said the organisation sought to overthrow the governments of China and Hong Kong by unlawful means, said they are still investigating and further arrests may follow. Among those named are businessman Elmer Yuen, commentator Victor Ho, and activists Johnny Fok and Tony Choi. Four of them are subject to previous arrest warrants, each carrying a bounty of HK$1 million US$127,000). Among the remaining 15, for each of whom police are offering a bounty of HK$200,000 (US$25,480), are those said to have organised or run in the election and sworn in as its councillors. None of the accused could be reached for comment. The former British colony returned to Chinese rule in 1997 with the guarantee of a high degree of autonomy, including freedom of speech, under a "one country, two systems" formula. Critics of the national security law say authorities are using it to stifle dissent. Chinese and Hong Kong officials have repeatedly said the law was vital to restore stability after the city was rocked for months by sometimes violent anti-government and anti-China protests in 2019. Police reiterated that national security offences were serious crimes with extraterritorial reach and urged the wanted individuals to return to Hong Kong and surrender. "If offenders voluntarily give up continuing to violate the crime, turn themselves in, truthfully confess their crimes, or provide key information that helps solve other cases, they may be eligible for reduced punishment," they said in a statement. Police also warned that aiding, abetting, or funding others to participate in the "Hong Kong Parliament" could be a criminal offence. - Reuters
