By CHRIS MEGERIAN
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump was “caught off guard” by the current Israeli strikes in Syria and on a Catholic church in Gaza, White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt stated Monday.
Her feedback have been a uncommon suggestion of daylight between Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who’ve usually been aligned on politics and international coverage, notably with the current assaults on Iran’s nuclear program.
Nevertheless, Trump is pushing for an finish to the conflict in Gaza and attempting to help the brand new Syrian authorities because the nation emerges from years of civil conflict, and Israeli army operations have threatened to complicate these initiatives.
An Israeli assault final week hit the Gaza Strip’s solely Catholic church, killing three individuals and stirring outrage. As well as, Israel intervened in the course of the newest outbreak of sectarian violence in Syria, even bombing the capital, Damascus.
Leavitt advised reporters that Trump has “a good working relationship” with Netanyahu however “he was caught off guard by the bombing in Syria and also the bombing of a Catholic church in Gaza.”
“In both accounts, the president quickly called the prime minister to rectify those situations,” Leavitt stated.
Trump’s particular envoy to Syria, Tom Barrack, advised The Related Press that Israel’s intervention in Syria “creates another very confusing chapter” and “came at a very bad time.”
