Senior officials in the Trump administration have voiced growing concern over Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s aggressive military actions in Syria, describing him as increasingly unhinged and politically driven, according to Axios reporting.

Following Israeli airstrikes on Syrian army positions near Suwayda and the presidential palace in Damascus — strikes that came despite a US-brokered ceasefire — multiple White House aides expressed alarm. “Bibi acted like a madman. He bombs everything all the time,” one official said, warning that such actions risk undermining President Trump’s attempts to stabilize Syria and negotiate broader peace in the region.

Israeli Strikes Defy US Warnings

On Tuesday, Israel bombed a Syrian military convoy en route to Suwayda, claiming it had entered a demilitarized zone and was targeting Druze civilians. The following day, Israeli jets struck Syria’s military headquarters and dropped bombs near the presidential palace. US envoy Tom Barrack and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had warned Israeli officials to halt operations and allow diplomacy to proceed — advice that was initially accepted by Netanyahu but quickly abandoned.

The strikes followed violent clashes between Druze militias and Bedouin fighters in Suwayda that left over 700 people dead, drawing regional and international attention. The Israeli government claimed it intervened to protect Druze communities — a key domestic constituency for Netanyahu.

Trump Team Split: Frustration Behind the Scenes

While Trump himself has not publicly criticized Netanyahu, multiple officials within the administration say the president is privately frustrated. “What the f*** is going on?” one aide quoted Trump as asking after viewing news coverage of the bombings. A second official said Netanyahu was behaving “like a child who just won’t behave.”

There is a growing belief inside the White House that Netanyahu’s actions are politically motivated. “Bibi’s political agenda is driving his senses,” said a US official, citing pressures from Israel’s Druze and far-right constituencies.

Ambassador Mike Huckabee, a longtime supporter of Israel, sharply criticized the Israeli government for a recent settler mob killing of Palestinian-American Saif Musallet and for making it harder for American evangelicals to obtain travel visas. Huckabee also labeled the Gaza church strike “terrorism.”

Regional Fallout and Strategic Missteps

The strikes have drawn condemnation not only from the US but also from Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and other regional actors. US officials fear that Israel’s unchecked military actions could destabilize Syria’s new leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa, whom the Trump administration views as essential to regional stability.

“We want Syria to stabilize. If Israel keeps bombing, it will only empower extremists and discredit moderate actors,” one official said. Another added, “Both the Druze and Israel will lose if this continues.”

Despite Netanyahu’s past success in aligning with Trump — including over Iran and Gaza — US officials warn his current strategy is eroding goodwill in Washington. “The Israelis need to get their head out of their asses,” one official quipped, adding that Netanyahu is gambling with the future of US-Israel relations.