Live Update arrow right icon From the Liveblog of Friday, May 16, 2025

Trump says he did not consult with Israel on Syria

By Reuters 16 May 2025, 5:07 pm 2 Edit

US President Donald Trump says he did not consult ally Israel about the US decision to recognize Syria’s new government, despite deep Israeli suspicion of Islamist President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration.

“I didn’t ask them about that. I thought it was the right thing to do. I’ve been given a lot of credit for doing it. Look, we want Syria to succeed,” Trump tells reporters aboard Air Force One, shortly after departing Abu Dhabi at the close of a four-day Middle East trip.

Trump said on Tuesday he would order the lifting of sanctions on Syria, a major policy shift before meeting Sharaa.

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