ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – US President Donald Trump on Monday hailed the progress made by Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration, expressing Washington’s support and warning Israel against intervention after a recent deadly Israeli operation in the country’s south. 

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said that the US is “very satisfied” with progress in Syria. “We are doing everything within our power to make sure that the Government of Syria continues to do what was intended, which is substantial, in order to build a true and prosperous Country.” 

Last month Sharaa visited Washington, where he met top US officials, including Trump. During the visit, Syria officially joined the US-led global coalition against the Islamic State (ISIS).

In return, Washington temporarily suspended the crippling Caesar sanctions on the country for 180 days.

“One of the things that has helped them greatly was my termination of very strong and biting sanctions — I believe this was truly appreciated by Syria, its Leadership, and its People!” Trump stated. 

He further warned Israel against interfering in Syria, stressing that Tel Aviv and Damascus can “maintain a strong and true dialogue.” 

“The new President of Syria, Ahmed al-Sharaa, is working diligently to make sure good things happen, and that both Syria and Israel will have a long and prosperous relationship together,” Trump said. 

Israel has repeatedly launched attacks against Syria since Assad’s fall, nominally to destroy weapons caches and protect the minority Druze community that has been the target of sectarian massacres at the hands of Damascus-affiliated armed forces.

On Friday, an Israeli operation in southern Syria’s Beit Jinn town, the deadliest in Syrian territory since the fall of Bashar al-Assad, killed at least 13 and injured 24. The Israeli troops, who also sustained injuries, were forced to withdraw after local resistance. 

Syria’s foreign ministry strongly condemned the operation as a “full-fledged war crime,” stating the Israeli forces bombed the area “in a deliberate and brutal manner” after failing to advance, forcing large numbers of families to flee as shelling continued on residential homes.