President Donald Trump declared the United States the driving force behind the release of Israeli-American hostage Edan Alexander, stating "They have been fighting a long time, they deserve a lot of credit but my people deserve a lot, maybe the most credit. If it weren't for us, he wouldn't be living right now, probably none of the hostages would be living right now."
The claim, part of a flurry of Middle East policy announcements, comes alongside revelations of lifted sanctions on Syria, potential new sanctions on Russia, and strengthened US ties with Gulf nations, signaling a assertive shift in US foreign policy.
Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli-American soldier, was freed on May 12, after 19 months in Hamas captivity following the October 7 attack on Israel. The US-led deal, brokered through Egypt and Qatar by special envoy Steve Witkoff, largely excluded Israel until its final stages.
In a separate announcement, Trump confirmed the US will lift sanctions on Syria despite Israel's objections, stating, "We told Israel that we are lifting the sanctions over Syria." The decision, made during Trump's Gulf tour in Riyadh, at the urging of Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, aims to support Syria's reconstruction after Bashar Assad's ouster in December 2024.
Video: Trump arrives in Qatar on May 14, 2025 / Credit: Reuters
Turning to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Trump hinted at imposing secondary sanctions on Russia, saying, "We are always looking at the possibility of imposing secondary sanctions on Russia. I don't know if Putin will show up for the talks in Istanbul."
