Trump Discusses Possible Syrian Role Against Hezbollah in Lebanon

US President Donald Trump renewed his remarks about the possibility of Syria playing a role in confronting Hezbollah in Lebanon, stating that he had spoken with Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar' on the matter.

Speaking on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France, Trump said he discussed Hezbollah with al-Shar', according to Reuters. This came a day after he told reporters that Syria might perform "better" than Israel in dealing with the Lebanese group.

This is not the first time Trump has suggested a potential Syrian role against Hezbollah in Lebanon, a topic that remains sensitive in Lebanon, where Syrian military presence began in 1976 during the civil war and ended with Syrian troop withdrawal in 2005.

Notably, Trump confirmed in response to a reporter's question that he had actually spoken with al-Shar' about Hezbollah, without disclosing further details regarding the timing or content of the conversation or the Syrian president's response.

No official Syrian comment has been issued regarding Trump's latest statement. However, al-Shar' had denied, days before the G7 summit, rumors about Syria intending to intervene militarily in Lebanon.

The Lebanese government also refrained from commenting on Trump's remarks. When BBC Arabic contacted the media office of Lebanon's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Emigrants to ask if Minister Youssef Raji had any comment on Trump's statements, the response was "No comment."

In Israel, Defense Minister Yisrael Katz responded to Trump's comments in an interview with Israeli Channel 14, as published on the channel's website, saying Israel "does not need" Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar' in Lebanon. Katz referred to al-Shar' by his former name "al-Joulani," describing him as a "terrorist in a suit," and added that Israel "does the work itself," referring to its military operations against Hezbollah.

Details of Trump's Statements

US President Donald Trump made two separate statements regarding the possibility of Syria taking a role in confronting Hezbollah in Lebanon.

The first statement was on June 16 during a meeting with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France.

Trump told journalists he had suggested to Israel to "let Syria handle Hezbollah," adding, "To be honest, I think they might do a better job."

This comment came as a response to a question about Israeli attacks in Lebanon and their impact on the diplomatic track related to Iran.

Trump praised Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar', stating that those "running Syria now" had done an "amazing" job in reunifying the country alongside Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and others. He added that al-Shar' "is not an angel," but "has done a great job" in Syria and "deals well with Hezbollah and does not like them," according to Trump's words.

Trump then criticized Israel's approach to Hezbollah in Lebanon, saying Israel had been fighting the group for a long time and that "a very large number of people are being killed." He added that "it is not necessary to destroy a residential building every time" someone is being sought, because many people in those buildings "are not all Hezbollah," as he put it.

The following day, June 17, Reuters reported that Trump confirmed, when asked by a reporter, that he had indeed spoken with al-Shar' about Hezbollah. When asked if the Syrian president was ready to confront the group, Trump said he would discuss that later.

It was notable that Trump did not mention any official Lebanese role or speak about informing or consulting Lebanese authorities regarding any potential Syrian role in Lebanon.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun had ruled out, in statements reported by Arab media on June 11, Syrian involvement in the Lebanese arena, saying al-Shar' possesses "a high sense of responsibility and political awareness" and would not be drawn into the "Lebanese quagmire."

Syrian Position So Far

On June 13, Syrian President Ahmad al-Shar' denied, during a meeting with dignitaries from the Damascus countryside at the People's Palace, what he described as "rumors" about Syrian intervention in Lebanon.

Al-Shar' said, "What is being circulated about Syria entering Lebanon is not true," adding, "What we always propose is stopping the war, strengthening state institutions, enhancing economic ties, and calming the situation in Lebanon as much as possible."

He spoke about Lebanese-Syrian relations, stating they were built on "unsound foundations" during the previous regime. He referred to a "Lebanese wound" caused by Syrian interventions in Lebanon and a "Syrian wound" due to Hezbollah's interventions in Syria.

These statements came days after Trump's hint in an NBC interview about Syria possibly helping to deal with Hezbollah in Lebanon.

In a related development, Israeli Public Broadcasting Corporation "Kan 11" cited an unnamed Syrian source saying Damascus rules out direct military intervention against Hezbollah, as such a move might be seen by the Arab world as serving Israeli interests.

The source also said Turkey sent messages to Syrian officials urging them to avoid direct confrontation with Hezbollah, fearing it would strengthen Israel's strategic position in the region.

Fifty Years Since Syrian Forces Entered Lebanon

Syrian direct military intervention in Lebanon began in late May 1976, about a year after the Lebanese civil war erupted, amid escalating fighting between the Lebanese National Movement—a coalition of leftist, nationalist, and Islamic forces supported by armed Palestinian factions—and the Lebanese Front, which included mainly Christian right-wing parties such as the Kataeb and the National Liberal Party.

Damascus justified its intervention under then-Syrian President Hafez al-Assad as an effort to stop the war, prevent Lebanon's collapse, and contain the conflict. However, the intervention also followed contacts and requests for support from Lebanese Christian forces facing heavy military pressure from their opponents at the time.

Initially, the Syrian intervention placed Syrian forces against Palestinian factions and elements of the Lebanese National Movement, despite Syria's previous support for other Palestinian and Lebanese parties or attempts to influence settlement processes. Syria's alliances within Lebanon shifted multiple times later, based on power balances and Damascus's regional and domestic calculations.

In October 1976, the Syrian military presence was given Arab legitimacy through the "Arab Deterrent Forces," established by a decision of the Arab League, though it became predominantly Syrian in practice.

The Syrian military and security presence in Lebanon continued until 2005, when Syria withdrew its forces following the assassination of former Lebanese Prime Minister Rafik Hariri, widespread Lebanese protests, and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1559. Syria informed the UN on April 26, 2005, that it had completed the withdrawal of its forces, equipment, and intelligence personnel from Lebanon.

Hezbollah's Involvement in Syria

After protests against Bashar al-Assad's regime erupted in Syria in 2011 and escalated into armed conflict, Hezbollah intervened militarily to support Syrian government forces against armed opposition factions and jihadist groups.

The group fought alongside Syrian forces in several areas, including the Homs countryside, al-Qusayr near the Lebanese border, Aleppo, the Damascus environs, and other regions. Hezbollah gradually acknowledged its role in Syria, initially citing protection of Shia religious sites and border villages, then securing the Lebanese border, and eventually openly declaring participation in battles inside Syria. The group suffered significant casualties among its fighters and commanders during the war.

Later, Hezbollah engaged in battles against Syrian militants along the Lebanese-Syrian border, particularly in the Arsal and Qalamoun borderlands.

In 2017, the Lebanese army, led at the time by General Michel Aoun, launched a military operation against the Islamic State in the Ras Baalbek and Al-Qaa borderlands, while Hezbollah and the Syrian army conducted operations on the Syrian side and other border areas. The Lebanese army stated it did not coordinate its operations with Hezbollah or the Syrian army.

With the fall of Assad's rule in December 2024, Hezbollah suffered a strategic blow by losing its Syrian ally and a main supply route through Syria.

Reuters reported that Hezbollah fighters and leaders largely left Syria by October 2024 to concentrate on the war with Israel in Lebanon, sending officers to oversee the withdrawal of remaining fighters as opposition factions advanced toward Damascus.

Why Is the Lebanon-Syria Situation More Complex?

Andrew J. Tabler, a researcher at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, warned that encouraging Syrian military intervention in Lebanon could pose significant risks for both Damascus and Washington.

Tabler argued that a government still working to consolidate control within Syria is not in a position to open new fronts beyond its borders.

He outlined several factors that make any Syrian intervention in Lebanon risky, stating such a move could first escalate regional tensions by attracting Iran-backed networks in Syria, Iraq, and beyond.

Second, Tabler said any Syrian military intervention might inflame sectarian tensions in Lebanon and the region. He wrote that Hezbollah would likely portray Syrian forces as Sunni jihadist fighters—including Syrians, Uzbeks, and Uyghurs—targeting Shia communities, which could strengthen Hezbollah's support base.

Third, Tabler suggested that any new Syrian military presence would undermine the legitimacy of the Lebanese state, as many in Lebanon would perceive it as external coercion rather than support for Lebanese sovereignty, given the decades-long Syrian military and security presence during the Assad era.

Tabler noted that amid the current crisis, Damascus has focused on preventing spillover of the conflict into Syria by enhancing border security, surveillance, and patrols along the borders with Lebanon and Iraq, rather than preparing for external military operations.

He also pointed out that the Syrian government faces growing internal pressures, including energy supply disruptions and a large influx of Syrians returning from Lebanon, with reports indicating over 125,000 people, mostly Syrians, crossed the border back into Syria following the escalation of the conflict in Lebanon.

In Lebanon, President Michel Aoun's remarks about Syria not being drawn into the "Lebanese quagmire" partly reflect the complexity of the Lebanese situation: a fragile political and security environment, a severe economic crisis, and deep political and sectarian divisions over Hezbollah's arms and the role of the state.

Complicating any notion of Syrian military intervention is the fact that the Lebanese areas bordering Syria are not politically or sectarian homogeneous; they include towns and regions with diverse social and sectarian compositions, not limited to Hezbollah's areas of influence or support base.

Since the fall of Assad's rule in December 2024, there have been repeated security tensions along the Lebanese-Syrian border between Syrian forces and Hezbollah or affiliated groups, notably in March amid the widening confrontation between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon.

During that period, al-Shar' affirmed Syria's support for Lebanon's stability and integrity and backed President Michel Aoun's efforts to disarm Hezbollah, according to Syrian news agency reports and other media. His statements were made during a video conference organized by the European Council and European Commission, attended by several regional leaders to discuss military developments, ways to reduce escalation, and support the diplomatic process.

Al-Shar' said Syria coordinated its position with regional countries and strengthened its defensive forces along the borders "precautionarily" to prevent the conflict's spillover into Syrian territory, combat cross-border organizations, and prevent their use of Syrian lands.

Conversely, on March 11, a group calling itself the "Islamic Resistance in Iraq" issued a statement warning al-Shar' against any military move toward Lebanon, considering such a step as "a declaration of war on the axis of resistance," according to Lebanese and Arab media reports.

The statement addressed the Syrian army, saying, "If you dare to violate Lebanon's sovereignty and its patient and resistant people, we will turn your land into an open field of fire."

Source: BBC