Trump criticises Israel's Lebanon war, urges Syria to act against Hezbollah
US President Donald Trump criticised Israel's military campaign in Lebanon at the G7 summit in France, saying the war has dragged on too long, caused excessive civilian casualties and undermined broader diplomatic efforts in the Middle East. He told reporters he was unhappy with how Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government is handling the fight against the Iran-backed group Hezbollah, adding that knocking down apartment buildings to target militants harms many civilians who are not fighters. Trump said he had urged Israel to let Syria take a greater role in confronting Hezbollah, arguing Damascus could deal with the group more effectively. He also lamented Lebanon's decline, describing it as a country that once produced leading intellectuals, doctors, lawyers and academics but now suffers from political instability, economic collapse and years of conflict. Trump warned that the prolonged fighting risks jeopardising his administration's diplomatic initiative with Iran, casting a "negative light" on efforts to secure a larger regional agreement involving Tehran. The comments come as Washington seeks to consolidate a regional de-escalation process after a recent ceasefire framework and amid ongoing US-Iran engagement. While the Trump administration has supported efforts to sustain a truce between Israel and Hezbollah, tensions and sporadic attacks have continued. For Nigeria, as an oil-exporting nation, any escalation in the Middle East can influence global oil prices and affect government revenue and foreign exchange. Readers should consider how prolonged regional tensions might shape fuel costs, investment flows and Nigeria's diplomatic positioning, and stay alert to further developments that could impact both global stability and the domestic economy.